Welcome to the 2026 season.
My plans for 2026 have changed and been slightly delayed. I sadly lost my dad in November 2025, so priorities took over.
In 2025, I mentioned that I had purchased two new bird boxes and had decided to replace boxes 1 and 2 with them. Well I am still replacing the two boxes, but the new boxes are being put up in a new location.
Boxes 1 and 2 have been up since 2006 and the technology inside them is no longer available to purchase if something failed. With this in mind I have taken the decision to “retire” the two boxes from use. Box 3 uses a wired camera and needs a power supply and recording device to monitor\view it. I am looking into the possibility of upgrading the camera to the same type in my two new boxes, as there is nothing wrong with the structure of the box itself.
With the nesting season coming I will not have the time needed to move the box and change the camera, so for the 2026 season I will be only using the two new boxes. I have updated the Technical page with more details on the new boxes.
Let’s start with the first diary entry for the 2026 season and I will try and keep my website more up to date 🙂
Box 1 and Box 2 have been seeing the odd visit. Box 1 had been very quiet throughout January, but in Box 2 a male Great Tit visited for a few inspections. It was not joined by a female and since the end of January has not been back.
Since 18th February, activity in Box 2 has increased.
The first visit of the day was made just after 10am with a single Blue Tit entering the box. Another bird then was heard at the entrance hole. Based on the movements I believe the bird in the box was a male and the bird at the entrance hole was a female.
A few seconds later the other Blue Tit comes into the box. I have never found an exact way to tell the two apart, but sources say the female has less white around the back of the head\neck, where the blue cap meets.
So the male is on the right and the female is on the left.
As soon as the female entered the box, the male flew out, leaving the female to inspect the box.
For the next four minutes, she spent time inspecting the floor, the camera area and the side windows. And then performed two “nesting wiggles”
So does Box 2 have a new owner for the 2026 season?
Well a few more visits were made during the morning, before activity stopped again for the afternoon. Upon checking the box later that night, there was no roosting bird.
So it’s a good start and looking promising for a nest.
More in my next diary update
