No photo of the Redstarts' nest, but I DO know where they are nesting, and it was where I had suspected that they would be because they were always by the junk room window and windowsill. By creeping in close enough to see what they were doing, when I heard the male calling weet-weet this morning, I got a photo of him with a large pale coloured something - caterpillar? - in his beak. After a minute of so he flew up to the top right of the window and then came back seconds later with an empty bill. Our house has thick stone walls - well over 2 feet thick in places - the oldest parts of the house. Above this window is a big gap with no stone in, from when the window aperture was first put in, around the 1970s I think. Everything is supported above it, but there is a brick-width gap nonetheless in the stonework. It is on a ledge on the right where the nest must be. So . . . hopefully I can get some better photos.
When we had them nesting here years ago, they set up home in the top of the Cart-shed walls, just under the eaves, in a nook, so obviously they like to feel safe with a roof over their nest.
Lucky you having redstarts and finding the nest too!
ReplyDeleteThere is something so exciting this time of year in finding a nest isn't there BB? Look forward to any forthcoming photographs.
ReplyDeleteI shall do my best Weaver. They're right out of the weather INSIDE the wall, and out of my sight. Clever birds, this pair, as it's a really safe place for them.
ReplyDeleteCait - I'd be very surprised if you didn't have Redstarts in your area too, as you're not that far from me. I used to see lots along the lanes when I drove up to Uni in Lampeter. Then we had a few years where numbers were decimated (flying over the Med perhaps?) but now they are back again.
There is real pleasure in discovering a nest that is occupied.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the mental picture, however, of you possibly hanging off the windowsill in an attempt to document this!
Do be careful!
I must look up Redstarts--not sure if we have them in North America.