Redstart

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 The redstarts are back! These summer migrants overwinter in Africa. The one in my photograph is a male  (the females have a brown rather than a grey back and are less red about the breast). These birds breed in woodland and seldom touch down on the ground. The striking feature in flight is that the tail appears very red with the light through it. The birds often "shiver" their tails.


They feed on insects - mainly butterfly and beetle larvae

                                                                                Diary

We were excited today to see one of our bird boxes with a camera in it being investigated by a pair of great tits. The birds were bringing in some nesting material. Lets hope that they make a go of it. The only other box with a camera has been commandeered by tree bumble bees and all there is to see is a mass of nesting material and the occasional bee going in and out - not great for a photo opportunity.

Here are some screen grabs of the great tits in the nest box.


Looking at the nest boxes this morning there is certainly more nesting material in them so its looking good.
Another of my nest boxes on the other side of the house appears to have been taken by a wren. Wrens build a number of nests and the female is invited to choose one so whether or not this one gets occupied remains to be seen.
                                                                   
Trail cameras showed badger, fox, and red squirrel- and what I reckon was a weasel- judge for yourself!
It's hard to judge the scale but I don't see a black tip to the tail. If it was a weasel it's the first I have caught on the cameras.




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