The story starts on 10th. March 2002
Photos taken from inside the nest box.

Empty box waiting for inspection

Is somebody watching me?

Come on have a look round

March 27th. Bee decides to have a look inside. A spider has also started weaving a web near the camera.

March 30th. Nest building material starts to appear

March 31st. Lots more material.

April 1st. The female spends her first night in the box, and has done every night since

April 6th. After brushing the dog in the garden, the hair makes ideal nesting material.

April 10th. The first egg is laid.

April 14th. At least 7 eggs can be seen.

April 16th. The female spends most of the time on the eggs, occasionally being fed by the male.

April 23rd. The sunlight shining through the nest hole helps to reveal 8 eggs.

April 28th. 1.32 am. It`s obvious from the eggshells that some young have hatched.

April 28th. Day 1. The male passes food to the female.

April 28th. One of the young can be seen lying on its back.

April 28th. Mouths wide open, asking to be fed.

April 29th. Day 2. Judging by the empty eggshell, there must be another mouth to feed

April 29th. Both birds bring food.

April 30th. Day 3. Even more mouths!

May 1st. Day 4. A tasty spider for the lucky one.

May 2nd. Day 5. The last photo of the female, later in the day feathers were found in the garden.

May 2nd. The male continues to feed the young.

May 3rd. Day 6. The male returns at 5.35am. to feed the young, but because they were not brooded during the night they have died. The male returned several times to the nest during the day.

May 3rd. The nest was made with moss and lined with dog hair.

May 3rd. 7 young and 1 egg were removed from the nest