The Caterpillar Service – Day Six
Here’s the scene next to a busy public footpath:
It may appear tranquil but deep within the brambles is a Long-Tailed Bushtit’s nest. There’s a constant procession of adult birds bringing invertebrates in to the chicks. It’s not just the parents supplying provisions; I’ve counted at least five birds arriving back at the same time and making their own circuitous route to the hidden nest.
I’ve moved around to below the birds, come in the evening so the direction of light is right, and positioned myself so there’s a tiny sliver of blue sky behind their normal flightpath.
Then one bursts from the brambles and makes a dash for the nest:
There’s a caterpillar and a spider safely gripped in its beak.
I enjoy the irregular way they fly and hang in the air between wingbeats:
This one has a traffic light arrangement of invertebrates.
And having the long legs of this fly in your eye-line must get annoying. It’s like trying to drive with a cracked windscreen.
It hops around the perch and heads off to the nest:
With this supply of food the chicks must be growing fast now, surely.
Long-Tailed Bushtits usually only live for two years. This may be their last chance for children. The entire family of aunts and uncles who have probably lost their broods are chipping in with help.
I hope they make it.
More Long-Tailed Bushtits
The Caterpillar Service – Day Eight I only have a snatched hour with the Long-Tailed Bushtits today. I still get some lovely views. I've been trying… read more
The Caterpillar Service – Day Seven Today the Long-Tailed Bushtits are working as hard as ever to gather invertebrates: After a week I'm much happier with… read more
The Caterpillar Service – Day Five The caterpillars keep on coming. Beak-fulls of them. Green ones, brown ones, grey ones and orange ones; they've all been… read more
The Caterpillar Service – Day Four It's Day Four of photographing Long-Tailed Bushtits for me. After all, what is there to do when I've got no… read more
The Caterpillar Service – Day Three It's Day Three of following the Long-Tail Bushtit family on waste ground near my house in South Devon. I say… read more
The Caterpillar Service – Day Two Yesterday I spent five hours on a public footpath overlooking a Long-Tailed Bushtits' nest. I'm happy that I wasn't disturbing… read more
The Caterpillar Service – Day One The call of the Long-Tailed Bushtit is quite distinctive. It must be, because even I can recognise it. 'Tsurp', they… read more