Bluetit Diary    May 2005 (18)

 

 

Sunday 22nd May, 2005

For several days now we have been reconciled to the probability that Kelly now has only 6 chicks alive.  It was on Saturday 14th that we last have definite evidence of seven chicks - we haven't seen all seven at a time since.

Babe's chicks all looked as though they were doing well and as she only laid 5 eggs, which all hatched out and survived the first critical days, we expected all to fledge.  This morning we realised that we could only see four chicks - were we missing something obvious?  Looking back at the stored images, it is clear that there were 5 vigorous chicks at the start of yesterday

This shows Babe feeding the chicks at about half past six yesterday  morning.

And here are five voracious gapes at about half past seven yesterday  evening.

Today the fifth chick has vanished.  Has it died?  As the chicks have not left the nest cup, I don't believe a woodpecker could reach them from outside the nest.

It's a mystery!

On a brighter note, this is the first time we have seen one of Babe's chicks flapping its wings like this.  (S)he really seems to mean it!

It is difficult to get good pictures of the great tit chicks as they look so dark!  Their heads will be black of course, but at the moment, all their fluff and feathers look dark grey or black.

They are certainly eager feeders though.  Here Babe doesn't even come fully into the nest to feed one of her chicks.

It looks a scrawny thing though, doesn't it.  All skin and bone - and black too - not a pretty sight!

Still - someone loves them - even if it is only mum!

Kelly's chicks are looking more like adults every day.  Here they look as though they are giving her a frosty reception when she comes in to do some housework.

We thought that they would fledge tomorrow or Tuesday but perhaps that was premature.  These chicks are not boisterous enough yet - there will be a lot more wing flapping and wandering around inside the nest box before they start to look outside.

Although most of our bluetits have fledged on the 19th or 20th day after hatching, that's tomorrow or Tuesday, one lot took until the 24th day so you can never be sure!

Sitting on the edge of the nest cup, as two of them are here, is becoming more common but they still tend to stay in the nest cup for most of the time.

So, we are going to Pulborough Brooks tomorrow - we don't expect to miss anything!

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