Wildlife in a Suburban Garden

The male arrives with a beak full of nesting material at the new site……. but where's the nest?

Continuing on from yesterday, I returned to take up my position by the new nest site. It made sense to approach from another direction and I was interested to immediately see a Dipper on the stepping stones that I was about to cross. It flew in the opposite direction and I suspect that this was a bird from a different territory and not my breeding pair. I arrived up river at the spot where all the activity was yesterday  and immediately saw that the female was perched just beneath the makeshift hide that I had put up before I left. It soon became obvious that the area that they were interested in was just below me because several times a bird came and went with nesting material.  I was not learning anything though and that was the idea of today's session. I was trying to find out exactly where the nest was. When I thought it was safe to do so, I left the scene taking my gear with me.  I had been studying the opposite bank  while I sat there and came to the conclusion that I would have a better view of what was happening from the other side.  Off I went and half an hour later, I was covered up in camo gear and watching, now from the opposite bank. I have noticed, both this year and last, that all nest building activity seems to take place in the earlier part of the day and in all my watching I have yet to see any building activity after 1pm and it was now way past midday.  I was pleased therefore when at 12.38, the male noisily arrived singing and chirpy with a beak full of moss.  I watched him intently and with the excitement that comes with real interest.  I  thought my question was going to be answered  as he flew to the rock just beneath where I had been sat earlier.  I expected him to give up his secret but then, frustratingly and inexplicably, he flew back up stream without depositing his building material.  I won't tell you what my reaction was but just lets say, I cursed! Then, probably because of their habit of feeding way up stream in the afternoon, as I have already explained, that was the last sight I had of Dippers today even thoughI remained for another 3 hours.