Both chicks out of the nest cup. At a quick look, you might mistake them for Sam and Claire!
I must have been psychic! Later today the great tit chicks fledged!
Only one this time.
Perhaps this chick thinks that a sudden dash for the exit hole is the best exit strategy!
But it doesn't work this time!
Mum comes in to give the chicks some encouragement.
"Shall I have another go?" It took another sudden lunge at the hole - with the same result as last time.
This chick is persistent. Here it is having a good look out of the nest box hole.
It flutters furiously in the exit hole.
From the outside, you can see that it is almost out!
This time it makes it! I hope it soon learns to fly better than this though!
Claire visits the nest soon after and gives a final bit of mothering to the remaining chick.
Sam does his bit - he comes in with some food.
After half an hour or so the second chick plucks up the necessary courage to go to the hole and have a look outside.
You can see him with his head outside having a good look around.
After another half an hour with several unsuccessful attempts to leave the nest behind it, this time looks serious!
This is the last shot we took of the great tit chicks. He's on his way!
All that is left is an empty nest - empty that is except for a couple of pieces of poo that the chicks lost control of in their terrifying experience.
After the chicks have fledged, it always seems as though the parents take a little time to realise what has happened.
Here is Sam with some food. No takers now, Sam!
This time it's Claire that can't quite understand what has happened.
A bit later she comes in again. This time she sees a faecal sac in the bottom of the nest cup and being the good housekeeper that she is - she removes it!
Next time she comes in, she removes the other sac. This one was dropped by the second chick just before he flew!
Now all we have is an empty nest box.