BLUE TITS (19)

Just to let you know, that during my vigil by the box yesterday evening, the female DID return.
She flew straight into the box (no perching on the chopstick) at 18:40, stayed in a minute or two, left the box to perch on the chopstick for 30 seconds and then buggered off.

She was back though, to roost. (Panic over)!
At 19:32 she returned at speed, flew straight into the box, where she stayed. This behaviour seems to be typical of the female - i.e. flying straight into the hole in the box, rather than arseing about on the chopstick like the male does to 'announce' his territory. That way the territory (if necessary) is defended by the male, whereas the female dives straight into the box to avoid unecessary possible attention from any nearby predators...

I was up at 06:00 this morning - both birds had already left the nest; the male has returned as I type this, and is presently 'tap-dancing' on his chopstick again...


NB. Also just seen the male and female enter the box together, just like old times, the male in first - then the female with a tiny bit of stuff (nesting material?) in her beak. Yes she has returned a few minutes later with more (significant) soft white seed heads in her gob, to further line her nest!
Good to see they are still together and still returning to the box. I just wonder now if the male ALSO roosts in the box, as he does on the box in the blue-tit site I've linked to.
I haven't seen him enter the box to roost yet but that doesn't mean it isn't happening!