The fourth chick followed him about a quarter of an hour later. He too seems to be heading for the garage roof.
After that there were three chicks left. These were the less adventurous ones, the chicks that tended to stay at the bottom of the nest cup.
It often happens that a chick's departure causes the others to stop cheeping and to take refuge in the nest cup. Although nearly four hours have passed since the forth chick left, the last three still seem to be in a state of shock!
At about half past twelve, shortly after the picture above was taken, we heard a bluetit calling from outside the nest box. Presumably it was one of the parents trying to encourage the remaining chicks to take the plunge!
Eventually, at about half past one, one of the remaining three plucked up the courage to jump up to the hole and look out.
Barney came to the entrance to offer words of encouragement - or was it food?
Whatever it was, it seemed to do the trick!
This was the last image of the fifth chick as he left the box.
Once chick number five had gone, the other two recognised that leaving was inevitable. At one stage they seemed to be both trying to get out together!
First one ...
... left ...
... and then the last chick ...
... flew!
Five minutes later Barney came in with a mealworm! He acted as though he was puzzled, starting to leave the nest and than turning back for another look.
Finally he seemed to convince himself that there was no one there to feed and so he went out again, probably for the last time this year!
Now we have empty nest syndrome again!