Bird’s-eye view

Manchester postwoman, Lynn Walker, has had the pleasure of hosting a family of blue tits over the past few weeks.

Lynn’s guests are currently living in a special Royal Mail-themed birdbox (pictured) in her garden and have been enjoying her kind hospitality since the lockdown began. But she’s afraid that any day now, they’ll decide that it’s time to move on.

Lynn, who has worked on the late shift at Manchester Mail Centre for 10 years, has been waiting with her camera at the ready, lest her guests decide that today is the day they’ll seek alternative lodgings. She’s also slightly anxious that her two cats, Ted and Molls, have developed a very keen interest in Lynn’s feathered friends.

I’ve never had a bird box before,’ said Lynn. ‘It was given to me as a birthday gift from a friend, who bought it from my local garden centre in Stoneclough. I'm a keen gardener and I love seeing all the wildlife in the area.

‘I was really surprised when the blue tits started building their nest in the box. It's been so lovely to watch them every day, while sat in the garden before going to work, especially during the lockdown.

‘I’ve loved seeing something so beautiful happening and it has been a lovely change from all the sadness going on at the moment. We started seeing both parents going in and out of the box to feed their chicks around two weeks ago. Then very sadly, last week, one of the parents carried a dead chick out and dropped it in the garden.

‘I’m just waiting for the chicks to fly off now as I'm sure it won't be long before they leave. Their chirping sounds are really loud now. I just hope they come back to nest in the box again as it has really been such a special delivery.

‘With all that's going on around the world at the moment, I wanted to share something that I think is really rather nice.’