There are now only 4 chicks still in the nest. The cameras were set to start recording at about 6.20am but luckily for us, the chicks were still there then!
Since the computer and the camera outside Box1 was running all night, we have early pictures taken from the outside. This is the first image recorded - it is only just light enough for the camera to switch to daytime mode, but this chick seems to think he is due to be fed!
A parent dutifully obliges! It feeds the chick from the entrance hole without entering the nest.
The inside camera doesn't turn on for about 40 minutes yet - I hope we don't miss anything!
Fortunately, after a good look around, this chick retreats inside the nest box.
Over the next hour, the chicks get more and more excited about the prospect of fledging! Well, perhaps one chick is not quite so interested - yet!
They actually seem to be fighting for the privilege of being the first to go!
This one seems to have won pole position!
Will it go at last? Yes, it does!
This is the last image taken of this chick. The next picture shows an empty nest box hole!
One down and three to go. One of the three remaining chicks still doesn't seem interested in leaving. The other two are still fighting over it.
Again, one of the chicks has won the right to fly next.
It looks around for one last time, ...
... gets its claws over the edge of the hole - and flies!
Unfortunately, we didn't get another photograph. Just another picture of the empty hole.
Now the chick that had been sitting out of the squabbles decides it had better be the next chick to fly and starts fighting for the privilege.
We cannot tell who won of course, but here is the winner ...
... and here a rather subdued loser!
This was the last picture of chick number three.
So now it's the turn of the last chick.
He didn't hang around long. In fact the last four chicks all left the nest within one minute - the quickest I can remember. Usually the last chick or two are very frightened of the prospect of leaving the nest and need to be coaxed out by their parents. Not this time.
I hope it remembered to use its wings before it reached the ground!
Now there is nothing left except a few droppings that the chicks left in the excitement of leaving. I doubt if a parent will be back to clean up this time - the nest box's job is done for this year.