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Tree Creeper - Andy Newman Images©

   Tree Creeper, (Certhia familiaris)        Hiltingbury Lakes, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, UK.

I came across this nest by accident, on the edge of a local woods in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire. The nest was made on the side of a rotten tree stump, I did not think they would survive with magpies around so every time I finished taking some pictures, I wrapped a piece of ivy around the nest, this helped hide the birds and hold the log together as it was very rotten and starting to fall apart.
I used a very long cable release so not to disturb the nest, but it was not long before the parents trusted me, sometimes, flying down to the tree I was resting on and looking at me. I often see these birds high up from my office window feeding, it always amazed me how they seem to defy gravity jumping forward upside down, I never thought I would ever get the opportunity to film a nest, especial as I am not a serious bird photographer. There was a footpath near by, and when a cycle rider rode past or a family with a pushchair, the baby birds would all open there mouths shouting loudly, thinking the vibration was there parents climbing the side of the tree stump. I am just glad they made it, and a few weeks later the stump collapsed.