Fantail has not been seen since just after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon and we are concerned that something may have happened to her.
We were out yesterday evening and so stopped recording at about six o'clock. Therefore we did not see whether Fantail came to roost for the night or not. We watched for her this morning but as of 6pm we have not seen her.
Looking back at the records of her visits to her nest yesterday morning, it is clear that she was very active all morning but that sightings of her came to an abrupt stop at about 3 o'clock.
This is the last recorded image we have of Fantail. She is leaving the nest as usual just after 3 o'clock on Friday 23rd.
Neptune can be seen hopping around the nest box later in the afternoon, but this is not unusual - he is a very attentive partner and is always on the lookout for her. He even comes to see that she is safely roosting in the nest box before he goes to roost elsewhere himself.
Here's Neptune with a food offering to give to Fantail.
If Fantail really has disappeared, how long will it be before he stops looking for her and gets on with his life?
On a more upbeat note, here is a picture of Barney feeding Fluffy. She appears to be sitting on the eggs pretty consistently now. If this continues, we expect the eggs to hatch about the 2nd May.
Suddenly, at almost half past seven, a bluetit flew into Fantail's nestbox. Surely, it can't be Fantail, can it?
Well judging by its tail, it's not Neptune, the only other bird regularly to go into this nest box.
As she fusses about the nest, it's obvious that it must be Fantail - the naughty girl! Where has she been!!
Let's hope Neptune forgives her and continues to look after her as well as he has done up till now.
Here is one last picture of Fantail.
It is a quarter to nine and it's dark outside. Fantail is home again - all tucked up and fast asleep.