Today is the day we think that the chicks in Box2 will fledge. (We thought that yesterday, but it did not happen!) The weather is warm and sunny so the prospects for the chicks would be good.
It is just 6.22 in the morning when a chick can be seen looking out of the nest box.
At 7.03, it has another look. Surely something must happen today!
At about half past eight all the chicks are still in the box. Two of their three parents are in the box with them having brought some of the first of the morning's mealworms.
Here is proof that there are at least 12 bluetit chicks in Box2. They are all reasonably quiet which at least means that you can count how many chicks there are!
Here's another picture, this time showing all three parents are still looking after the chicks. Two have food in their beaks and the third, Pete, is on the left of the picture.
Another picture showing all three parents. One is in the entrance hole, one at the top of the picture and the third is at the bottom right. These three bluetits have worked harmoniously together to bring their brood of chicks to the point of fledging.
It is now 8.47am and again a chick has gone to the exit hole to look out. Will it leave the nest box this time?
No - not yet!
Only a minute later it is back looking out of the box.
This time it goes! The first of our chicks to fledge this year.
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What a leap into the unknown!
(Chick 1)
It has gone!
Only 11 chicks to fledge now!
Just three minutes later, another chick has a look outside.
There's no hanging about here! It's off!
There it goes!
(Chick 2)
The remaining 10 chicks look subdued as they often do after one of their number has fledged.
In spite of this the third chick leaves less than a minute after the second.
Go-go-go!!!
(Chick 3)
There are only 9 chicks left in the box now.