We have a few sitting areas in the garden but don’t get much time to sit. Last year we didn’t sit once on our swinging seat under the dead oak, so this year I thought we must have some sitting down time! A good sweep, little hedges clipped and we were in business with a couple of lovely cold drinks of elderflower cordial.
Can you see what we failed to notice, up near the cross beam, a nest.
We decided that it is a wren’s nest from the shape and the way it has been made. We know that a wren was building a nest (it is the male that builds 3 or 4 nests) in the Hydrangea petiolaris which is by the kitchen window. We watched him flying in and out while we were doing the dishes and so avoided that area for quite some time. The male then shows the female all his nests and she then chooses which one takes her fancy. Unknown to her, he shows another female the other nests and so on!!
I don’t think this one came up to expectations, no sign of droppings underneath, in spite of being lovingly draped with some ivy and the entrance being garlanded with beautiful soft green moss! Just as well it wasn’t occupied because we were swinging for quite some time before I noticed it and the nest swings as well, poor chicks would have been sea sick!
We will leave the nest in position, who knows, something else might take a fancy to it, in the meantime we have a tiny little house for sale!
What a great tale. Nests are incredible. I remember seeing a photo of a wren that had nested in an old teapot someone had put in their garden. I’m sure if there had been baby birds in their you’ve have heard a lot of squawking when you started to swing.
Blackbirds and robins WW, are all feeding their demanding chicks which have now fledged and are chasing them round the lawn. Used to hear lots of noise in various parts of the garden when they were being fed in their nests. No noise at all from our little nest and no droppings on the seat underneath which would have alerted us. The nest is beautifully made, amazing when you think the only tool used is a beak!!
Very clever this wren, ain’t he? He makes his female feeling so special, with so many nests to choose from and then he digs on another one at the first one’s shoulders (wings?). Maybe this one’s free because the wren keeps it for the one night stands…
It does look amazing though, starting with well arranged large leaves and swirling up becoming more comfortable with moss.
By the way, if the wren doesn’t show, I’d like to take up the invitation for that cold drink… 😉
You’re welcome any time Alberto!! Had to laugh at the thought of the wren having one night stands in our little nest! He makes so much work for himself, having to feed various ladies and offspring, would make much more sense to have only one nest!
I tried to see you in the photo enjoying your drinks, but I couldn’t spot you anywhere 🙂 That is one great nest. Were you hiding in there?
Not quite Lyn, don’t think I’ve lost enough weight yet to fit in the nest!!
how lovely Pauline, I remember a story from childhood about the birds being taught how to make their nests the cookcoo left at the beginning so doesn’t know how to make a nest the wren was the only bird who stayed to the end so makes the best nest, Frances
Lovely story Frances, the wren must have stayed for the lesson on how to decorate the nest with ivy and moss! It is such a lovely structure, reminded me of the weaver birds in Africa.
I didn’t know that about wrens, I love Alberto’s idea about one night stands! You’re making a very good point, we should all sit and enjoy the garden, we try to sit on the terrace in the evenings with an apperitvo but the seats under the mulberry that I’ve shown are not often used. Christina
We don’t sit enough do we Christina, and even when we do, a little weed starts waving at us, so we don’t sit for long, have to be up and working again. Table and chairs on the patio see good use at meal times, but that tends to be it, must make more time for relaxing!
Hi Pauline, One of these days I must post a picture my hubby took of a bird nesting in a rather small pot hanging on a brick wall right beside someone’s front door. Birds often pick the strangest places to set up house. Last year, a robin built a nest in a four foot evergreen tree. All four babies perished overnight. It was very sad! Have a great weekend Pauline!
Poor Robin, maybe it was a first time parent Jennifer and will have learnt from its mistake. Sometimes they nest in the strangest places.
It is hard to sit! I always have the best of intentions, then something catches my attention that I must attend to! Your swing looks very inviting and so comfortable. Birds are fun to watch as they shop for houses! I wonder if Mr. Wren gets frustrated , asking what’s wrong with this nest or that nest, as Mrs. Wren takes the tour of potential homes, trying to decide which one to pick.
Deb, it is hard to sit isn’t it, there’s always something that needs doing, but I think we just need to learn to enjoy just being in the garden and not working all the time. Wrens are such tiny birds and they always sound rather cross, as if they are scolding each other, for such a small bird, they make so much noise, maybe he is telling her off for being so fussy!
Hi Pauline,
How lovely! As soon as I saw it I also thought of it being a Wren’s 🙂
I wish we had birds nesting here; I just have the birds instead but no suitable nest sites yet so I can’t really expect to ever have any! (the garden is too young to have anywhere).
We are the opposite to your garden Liz, we have trees of a couple of hundred years old, and now, some of the hedges and shrubs that I planted 20 yrs are now nesting sites for all sorts of birds. At the moment, walking round the garden, you can hear all the baby birds making such a noise, begging for food, it’s lovely.
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