When we come to write this, it is clear that Flash has disappeared! Fluffy seems to be carrying on successfully by herself, helped by a regular supply of mealworms from the feeder on the window.
These are today's first and last recorded images that show Flash. The first on the left was taken at a quarter past eight in the morning. Flash and Fluffy were both busy feeding their chicks until just after half past eleven. The image on the right shows the last time Flash entered the nest.
Fluffy continues to feed the chicks without a significant break until a quarter to twelve when the is a gap of almost 20 minutes before she feeds the chicks again.
This is the feed at 11.45am The next feed was at 12.04pm, nearly 20 minutes later.
Flash did not come to the nest again. The most likely explanation is that he was taken by a sparrowhawk. These birds are not frequent visitors to our garden but have been seen to come several times a year. After a sparrowhawk visit, all the birds take cover and not a bird moves in the garden for several minutes. The arrival of a sparrowhawk at about 11.45 is consistent with the gap in feeding until 12.04 Another possible predator that could have taken Flash is a cat. However, it was the middle of the day which is not a cat's preferred hunting time and there was no reason for Flash to come close enough to the ground to be caught.
Woodpeckers remain a danger. There was another woodpecker visit shortly after three in the afternoon. We don't think there is much chance that a woodpecker would be able to catch a healthy adult bluetit.
The woodpecker is back at Box2.
At least the chicks have enough sense on this occasion to
keep down.
Of course at this time, we had not noticed that Flash was missing. The last recorded visit to the nest was by Fluffy at ten to six.
Our last picture of Box2 today.