Diary of the nest - Events up to Hatching

Wednesday 4th to Saturday 15th April
After that worrying Tuesday, every day is the same, Robby is sitting on the eggs and only occasionally leaves. Every now and again her mate comes and feeds her.

Tuesday 4th April
A dreadful day, wet snow and high winds. Robby has been leaving the nest for extended periods today. Is she leaving to feed or keep warm? A nerve-wrecking time - will the eggs make it?

Monday 3rd April
We're worried to see that Robby is not sitting as long as before. But there is still lots of activity in and out of the nest. The camera has had to be adjusted after high winds blew a leaf into shot.

Sunday 2nd April
At least two eggs in the nest - probably more hidden out of sight as robins are said to lay four to six eggs in a brood.

Friday 31st March
Robby has been sitting almost continuously - always facing out of the nest, watching out for trouble! Also watching out for food - her mate was sighted bringing her a juicy caterpillar.

Thursday 30th March
AN EGG Around a lot this morning and left an egg behind. After about 10a.m once again nothing was seen of Robby.

Wednesday 29th March
Wet dark and rainy. Robby was tending the nest inthe morning.

Tuesday 28th March
A very cold day, Robby was in a little in the morning but only for short periods.

Thursday 23nd to Monday 27th March
Robby is very active in the morning and not seen in the nest for the rest of the day. However one of the birds is singing strongly from trees at the edge of the garden.  

Wednesday 22nd March
Bringing in more moss - a busy day today. Not much activity in the morning but it was very foggy, however we made up for it later in the day.

Tuesday 21th March
Started off the day the same way as yesterday. I notice that the nest is now has a feathery lining. As we have not seen the Robin bring in any feathers and we have seen them rubbing hard on the bottom of the nest they must be rubbing feathers from their breast to finish the lining of the nest.
Incidentally the camera slipped slightly yesterday but we were able to move it back again (and fix it better) under cover of darkness.

Monday 20th March
Very busy today. They are now bringing in moss again and spend losts of effort in pushing the nest into shape. Look for shots with only the back and wings showing as she makes a soft centre to the nest.

Sunday 19th March
A little action. The same as yesterday. Last seen at 9.15 in the morning. There were then two more visits last thing in the evening jsut as it was getting dark. They are not bringing new material to the nest but spend time pushing down into the soft moss that lines the nest

Saturday 18th
......but he is very busy this morning, once again up to about 10 o'clockThe robin now seems not to be bringing new material into the nest. When in the nest it fluffs up the inside an makes a nice deep well

Friday 17th
Today there was rather an interesting visitor. Look at the picture on the left. Does anyone have an idea what this bird was in the nest - email me from the link below. ,   However there was not much sign of the robin after this. Maybe the robin is not going to come back.........

Thursday 16th
The robins are very active for the first part of the morning, up to about 10 a.m. Once again carrying moss into the nest

Wenesday 15th
Very little action after the early morning.
In the evening the camera is  moved to a better position.

Tuesday 14th
The camera is set up and several experiments to get the best pictures are carried out

Monday 13th
The robin's nest was found over the previous weekend and the idea of having a camera on the nest is started. the robin is busy in the morning building the nest, The body of the nest seems complete and moss is being gathered for the lining