Parus major Nest

One more egg, and in the afternoon it looks like the female is starting to brood the eggs, but it only lasts a few minutes, and then she leaves again. This is repeated a few times, no real brooding. However, it is unusally warm today so maybe she thinks the eggs will get too hot. In the evening she returns, but contrary to previous nights she doesn’t go to sleep immediately, but leaves the nest for short moments on several occasions before finally turning in for real.

Yes, the egg-laying continues, at least 3 more to come.

At dawn when the female is still asleep, the male calls out and the female just has to respond, even though she tries to sleep with her head under her wings. This goes on for at least 10 minutes. A few minutes later, she lays her fifth egg, and after another 15 minutes leaves the nest. Less visits in the morning than in the previous days, but she does bring in still more fluff.

Same pattern as yesterday, the egg is laid a few minutes before she wakes up for real and leaves the nest. In the morning frequent visits, none in the afternoon.

It looks like I captured the exact moment the third egg is laid (first clip). Hard to see, but the female wakes up, lifts her tail and moves her body from side to side. In all, it takes less than a minute, and she goes to sleep again immediately. A few minutes later, she wakes up for real (half past 7), and whistles in a special way (second clip). The 3 eggs can be seen for a short moment.

In the morning, she returns often, sometimes bringing yet more fluff, sometimes just to inspect the nest. In the afternoon no visits. Around 6, male and female perform their little bonding exercise. Around 8 the female comes in to sleep.

During the afternoon, the female does not visit the nest. Just before she goes to sleep (again around 8 o’clock), the female clears the fluff from the nest so the 2 eggs can be seen for a short time. During the night, she wiill mostly be on the nest, covering the eggs.