Low level blue tit

[cyclonebri]

This year we have a blue tit, now with young, nesting about 4 yds from the kitchen window. To be honest this is the only reason we spotted it.

Now going back to my earlier days when we found blue tits nests they were invariably in a tree hole or stump and usually 6 or 8 ft off the ground.

My wife 1st spotted this and from where it had nested without seeing the birds I suggested it would be a pair of wrens, but they are blue tits.

The nesdt is inside a circular tight dry stone wall, ie, very small gaps, but the entrance is only 5" from ground level (the lawn).

This strikes me as somewhat unusual or are they simply "adapting"?

[cyclonebri]

Any one any input???

[solus]

Some years ago a tit (can't remember if it was Blue or Great) nested in a hollow metal gatepost, about 4 feet above the ground, entering by a tiny hole near the top where some gate fitting or other had once been. Your pair sound as if they have selected an ideal nesting site, cosy and dry and protected from some predators at least.

[solus]

Here you go - nothing all that unusual!
Great place for a nest - they've got it tapped!

[RKB]

I've currently got 4 Blue Tit nests in tree roots at ground level. It's pretty common - they're very flexible in their nest sites, anywhere from ground level (or even below ground level) to as tall as the tree holes get.

If you give them a choice, though, they'll prefer to be over 1 or 2 metres.

[Murray30]

Hi Bri,
i think it was on one of Johnny Kingdoms programmes he was talking about birds nesting low i,e blackbirds in hedges and blue tits especially as long as the hole was the right size to stop predators getting in and stealing the eggs or chicks,

Regards Murray

[Pigeon feather]

I have a blue tits nest not much higher than 5 ft in a bird box just 10ft away from my front door they had 9 eggs in total they all hatched and are about a week old today but only 8 remain one was a bit smaller and was ignored by the parents for it's stronger siblings, years ago when I lived in a tower block in Hackney 11 floors up there was a blue tit nesting in the broken pointing of a brick 10 floors up! so yes they are very variable in their nesting habits.