Nuthatch - and, what is it? (1 Viewer)

C

cango

Well-known member

• May 22, 2020

• #1

Taken few days ago. Nuthatch's nesting. pair going in and out. Then this one comes out with this in the beak/mouth. Thought first it was poop, but no, does not look like it. Insect? (what's left of it?) Something the kids did not like?

Someone have and idea?

thanks in advance

 

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Julie50

Mostly in the Midlands :)

Supporter

• May 22, 2020

• #2

Not 100% sure from the photo, but nuthatches make the entrance holes smaller using mud stuck to the tree branch/trunk. You can see some both above and below the hole in your picture. When the juveniles are about to fledge they often remove some of the mud to make the hole larger.

Could be that!

 

C

cango

Well-known member

• May 22, 2020

• #3

Julie50 said:

Not 100% sure from the photo, but nuthatches make the entrance holes smaller using mud stuck to the tree branch/trunk. You can see some both above and below the hole in your picture. When the juveniles are about to fledge they often remove some of the mud to make the hole larger.

Could be that!

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did not know they removed some, when they are about to fledge

This hole is just on the side of a walking path, so I came across it few weeks ago, when they (or she) was still mudding up the hole. Therefore, I'm not so sure that that is mud pieces. In the part further away from its beak, you can see some curly thing, bit shiny, which gave me the impression of the tail of some (moth?) insect or the like.

 

Julie50

Mostly in the Midlands :)

Supporter

• May 22, 2020

• #4

Do you think it could be a wasps nest? Or some other insect nest? I looks like it might have “cells”?

 

Richard Prior

Halfway up an Alp

• May 22, 2020

• #5

Surely it’s just a bit of wood that has been dislodged?

 

Julie50

Mostly in the Midlands :)

Supporter

• May 22, 2020

• #6

Could be - but not as interesting!

 

F

fugl

Well-known member

• May 22, 2020

• #7

I agree with all the suggestions so far.

 

Pam_m

Well-known member

• May 22, 2020

• #8

Possibly fungi.

 

C

cango

Well-known member

• May 22, 2020

• #9

have searched for pupa
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Caligo_eurilochus_-_Puppe_(HS).jpg

but cannot find a similar one, though. Fungai sounded interesting.
thank you all for answering appreciated

 

Julie50

Mostly in the Midlands :)

Supporter

• May 22, 2020

• #10

We have similar in our lockdown area - nearly ready to fledge!

 

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W

WalterRayle

Well-known member

• May 23, 2020

• #11

Looks very much like a piece of fungus, one of the species that grows in rot holes in trees, presumably it's been growing inside the nest cavity and as it gets larger it blocks the nest, removing pieces will aid the growth of the chicks and prevent the nest cavity becoming blocked.

 

C

cango

Well-known member

• May 23, 2020

• #12

WalterRayle said:

Looks very much like a piece of fungus, one of the species that grows in rot holes in trees, presumably it's been growing inside the nest cavity and as it gets larger it blocks the nest, removing pieces will aid the growth of the chicks and prevent the nest cavity becoming blocked.

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yes, I think you might be right, by the looks of it. Why throw it away if it is an insect. The layers that is seems to have reminds of fungus as well.

Thanks to all for their suggestions.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• May 26, 2020

• #13

Agree with a bit of mouldy wood - maybe to make the nest cavity larger so the chicks aren't so cramped?