A long-tailed tit family.

The male and female birds work together to build their nest, which will take the best part of three weeks if it’s early in the season. Later builds can be done in a week.

The nest is shaped like a bottle, usually with a roof and an entrance hole near the top. They construct it in a bush or in the fork of a tree, from moss, camouflaged with lichen with interwoven cobwebs and sometimes bits of paper stuck on the outside. they add a feather lining. As the chicks grow the nest expands.

The female incubates a clutch of between 8-12 and eggs – sometimes as many as 15. Once they hatch, things get crowded but the nest is stretchy the nest expands.

When they leave the nest the family of young birds are often seen lining up together. I spotted this family while out for a walk this morning.

Above is a parent bird, all other pictures as young birds.