Bluetit Diary    May 2003 (29)

During the afternoon, we have had a violent storm - what a welcome to the world for the chicks!  Still they are warm and dry, and we just hope they and Fluffy will be well fed by Flash, then Fluffy can remain in the nest most of the time, keeping the chicks and the remaining two eggs warm.

The storm lasted for over forty five minutes - sometimes when the lightning was really close, Fluffy seemed a bit agitated. The hailstones were so numerous, and the downfall so prolonged, that at the end our lawn was almost completely white. The temperature went down to about 5°C - poor Flash, trying to find food for his new family.

Another strange incident occurred - now we wonder if it is he who wants to feed the chicks directly himself. He came in with an offering, but Fluffy remained firmly in the nest. When she tried to take the food from him, he wouldn't let go, although after a few tries he submitted, and passed it over, then quickly left the nest - at this point Fluffy moved out and fed a chick. Shortly afterwards, she was delving down in the nest, and emerged with a small white thing in her beak, which she proceeded to swallow. This could have been a faecal sac, and eating them is quite usual in the early days.

In the next sequence, Fluffy has come in to find Flash trying to feed the chicks.  She cheeps and flutters her wings, but whether this is to encourage Flash to carry on feeding or a request for him to pass his food to her, is not clear.  He initially ignores her.

Eventually, she's had enough and forces her way into the nest cup, so poor old Flash gives her his offering and rushes off.  Fluffy appears to eat it herself!

Another time, when Fluffy enters the nest when Flash is trying to feed the chicks, he clearly doesn't want to give it to her and starts to leave the nest.  You can see his tail in the right hand image below.