I only noticed the bird out of the corner of my eye as it was darting after a feather that was blowing in the breeze! I always stop to watch these cute little birds as they aren't common around the place like the blue or great tit. Back in my kitchen I noticed a couple of them out of the window collecting feathers and disappearing into a spruce tree, and once I'd grabbed my binocs I could make out a vague shape in amongst the conifer branches that I thought might be the nest.
I've just been outside to let out the ducks and chooks and I had a look and sure enough there is a fully formed nest hanging from the branch of the tree. What is so amazing is that this isn't deep in the wild woodlandy bit of my garden but right on the edge of the main, open bit of cultivated garden and I can see everything through the kitchen window!!!
Here's some info about them - apparently they need about 1,500 feathers to line their nests! Well there are plenty here.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdgui ... eeding.asp
(thanks)
