Today has to be Ken and Freda's day as their eggs have started to hatch!
As we thought Freda's eggs might start hatching today, I set the camera to come on a bit earlier this morning. Even so, the first picture, taken at about 10 to 6 this morning, showed that the eggs had already started hatching.
By a quarter past six, it was clear that at least two eggs had hatched and both parents were off in search of food.
Here, Ken is passing something to Freda to feed to the chicks.
At half past nine there were still two chicks and three unhatched eggs. One of the eggs seen here is partially hidden by a chick's head but it's pretty clear that there are still three of them and only two chicks.
At about five to ten we saw Freda with a large piece of egg shell - another egg has hatched!
She immediately took it out of the nest box in order to dump it somewhere well away from the nest.
Not being one to waste a journey, she brought back some sort of grub to feed to the chicks.
Although this picture looks much like the last - in fact it was taken two hours later and show that there are still two unhatched eggs, although one is nearly covered by one of the chicks.
Ken has been doing pretty well as a Dad. Here he is with another grub.
He is still doing his bit towards the end of the day. It's now ten past six and he has brought more food. Though with only three mouths to feed, its not quite the demanding job that Sally and Joe had with their ten chicks!
Ken passes the grub to Freda ...
... who manages to get a chick to take it while Ken watches. We have often noted how interested the males are in watching their chicks feed. It's part of the male parent's bonding process I suppose!
In spite of the grub's size, the chick has taken it and here you can see it half swallowed.
It's gone!
While the chick lies back exhausted, having swallowed what must have been a very large mouthful indeed, Ken heads off to look for more.
At the end of the day, there are still two unhatched eggs. The three chicks look pretty active and we have seen them take plenty of food so we can only assume that all bodes well for their future.
Finally, just in case you need reminding about Sally's brood, here is a picture of all ten of them.
Don't they look great!
At ten o'clock, we turned the power on briefly so that we could see what the chicks looked like fast asleep.
How's that for a close family!
It's the five chicks underneath that really amaze me!