Like Paul, in his post of 8 June, I too was full of optimism for this season when 11 nests were built in boxes in Littledale. 9 clutches of eggs were laid (the nest in one box did not progress) and one nest, when it was completed was found to be a Redstart. (Compare with last season here when only four nests were started, with not one being successful.)
However, things went rather wrong from then on. 6 of the clutches remain cold and clearly the adults have given up. The eggs are untouched, therefore not predation, but what? One adult female was found dead on the nest - possibly the victim of a night predator. Perhaps the other birds were not fit enough after their winter away to continue?
Three broods of young, however, have either fledged or are about to fledge.
The Redstart is still incubating and I really hope it will be successful as this is a very uncommon nestbox occupant in this wood.
Alan
1 comment:
sorry for the delay in responding. I found a new Pied Fly nest on 11th June - probably a re-lay from a nearby abandoned nest. Also a new Redstart clutch in a box that had already fledged a brood of Redstart a week earlier.
Past experience suggests s small number of Pied Flies lay in June and hatch in July so it might be worthwhile continuing to monitor boxes for a week or two more
paul
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