Blue tits - courtship feeding

[Graptolite]

I watched this pair of blue tits courting yesterday - initially I thought it was an adult feeding a chick, but on looking more closely it was clear that they were two adults. What I presume was the female (on the right), was crouching and shivering her wings, and the male would land on the branch next to her and feed her, just like he would do for a fledgling. From what I've read, this behaviour happens immediately prior to mating:



Taken with E-5, 50-200, 1.4xTC

[OM USer]

Re: Blue tits - courtship feeding

Very nicely captured.

[jdal]

Re: Blue tits - courtship feeding

That's a beautiful shot David, great subject and lots of detail.

[Tordan58]

Re: Blue tits - courtship feeding

A great shot, technically and also capturing the action spot on. Well done.

[David M]

Re: Blue tits - courtship feeding

I wonder if they lost their first nest, it's late in the year for courtship feeding.

[Graptolite]

Re: Blue tits - courtship feeding

I wonder if they lost their first nest, it's late in the year for courtship feeding.

Maybe it's because spring has been so late this year? Everything is a good 3 weeks behind just now.

[David M]

Re: Blue tits - courtship feeding

Maybe it is the late spring. Blue Tits normally time egg laying so that the green caterpillars (I forget the species) found on oak trees are at their peak when the young are being fed. In Cheshire the young are usually leaving the nest in the first week of June.