blue tit

After completing our shopping tasks in the centre of town we hopped(?) on a bus to the botanical gardens. Now I'm sure they're very pretty and well worth taking the time to explore, and there must be lots of birds in there.... but it was chucking it down - camera kept protected under my zipped...

This wee Blue Tit was trying his/her best to hide from me.... not surprised really, s/he's not looking his best, is /she. Poor thing, suppose s/he's been busy with nesting duties! TTTdW

One of the many species busy at the feeding centre that day. This Blue Tit was really, really too busy to turn around so I could get a good look at him. Oh well - that's birds LOL. TTTW

Blue Tit or window pane? Well take your pick. Seems the Starlings had been fighting again, but goodness, that tit really needs a good wash and brush up, doesn't he!!! TTTW

After the Starlings, young Blue Tits were the next youngsters out of the nest that I saw.... and seemed to be brought straight away to the window feeders. This is the first I managed to get a picture of. TTTW

juvenile in my garden

The BT posed nearer the window for a change, on the philadelphus that popped up there a couple of years ago, probably a runner from the bigger philadelphus by the feeders. S/he seems to be feeding on seeds from last year's pods ... or maybe on tiny insects hidden in there?

or maybe flowering plum

The chicks were getting introduced to a wide variety of foods.

... who was reluctant to show me his face (I can see a theme running here LOL). This was the best I could get of this Blue Tit and the only one I saw that afternoon.

Having checked and double-checked and triple-checked and so on ... it was finally time to take that grub to the nest and feed the chick(s).

The busy Blue Tit was taking care to include greens on the chicks' menu ;)

The parent tit was checking the area from every perch and angle before heading to the nest with that grub. The "bauble" filling the upper right corner is, I think, a reflection on the window from the desk lamp in the room.

literally and colloquially.

Three of my garden Blue Tit today, taken when nesting season had just begun.