Nest-building

Up early for the second breeding bird-transect of the year, which I'd originally planned to do tomorrow, but, as the forecast suggested the possibility of rain, I  decided to bring it forward. 

It was a bright start to the day, but rather chilly, which seemed to affect the birds, particularly the robins and blackbirds which were unusually quiet. I did hear a chiffchaff and the first rather tentative song of a blackcap, but there didn't seem to be the normal level of activity that you'd expect in early April. 

The highlight of my visit was seeing this treecreeper carrying nesting material into a hole in this old tree. A pair nested behind the bark of this same tree two years ago, and hopefully they'll succeed this year, though there did seem to be some competition from a pair of rather aggressive great tits.