One week later after posting photos of a pair of Long-tailed Tits sitting in the top of a bramble thicket, I returned to the area to see what was about.
Straight away and over about 10 minutes I saw more Long-tailed Tits coming to and through, diving into the thicket, and emerging quickly flying off into the surrounding trees. I realised that this was a family building a nest deep in the thicket, something I had never seen before. The Long-tailed Tit is unusual, in that the family from previous years stay together and work as a group to build the nest and feed the large number of young.
I understand that the dome shaped nest is built of moss, hair, lichens and spiders webs, lined with feathers. A selection of possible examples are seen below.
Some form of a grass stem perhaps?
Just left the nest and off to forage.
The male with a bunch of feathers....
Unfortunately I never managed a photo of this male showings its beautiful pink colouration.
Possibly feathers and a spider's web?
More spider's web?
I soon left the area, as I had the photos I wanted, and to allow the family to continue with their nest building.
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