Bluetit Diary    May 2005 (9)

 

 

Monday 9th May (part2)

It is now just before 3 o'clock and the solitary egg is still in one piece.

But what's this?  It is 3 minutes past 3 and Babe is holding up a piece of eggshell!

As we watch, the eggshell gets smaller - she is eating it rather than leave the nest at this stage to dispose of it!

Having disposed of the first half, she fishes down in the nest cup for the other half.

This too she starts to eat - resting it briefly on the side of the nest when she is part way through.

She has practically finished.

Now there are five wriggling pink blobs in the nest cup!

Just to remind you of Kelly - here is a picture of Kelly with 7 gapes!

We are still not sure how many of Kelly's 8 eggs hatched, or how many of the chicks are still alive.  However, this image appears to show seven gapes.  You never know, there might be 8 chicks somewhere down there in the pit!

Click on the picture for a bigger version!