Bluetit Diary    May 2015 (9)

 

 

Wednesday 27th May, 2015 (cont)

There is now another brief lull.  This time it is only about 15 minutes rather than the 40 minute gap after the first three chicks had fledged.

As usual, Dad senses that the chicks need some encouragement and brings them some food ...

... and so does Mum (whichever bird that is!)

It is now nearly a quarter to 10 and the six chicks are still in the nest box and looking as though they will stay there some time.

How deceptive appearances can be!

Suddenly, with no apparent preparation, another chick takes a look out of the box.  The rest of the chicks just look bored as usual!

It doesn't hang about either.  This is the last shot we have of this chick.  It must have gone to the left.

(Chick 7)

Immediately, the next chick went to the hole ...

... and this chick flies off too!

(Chick 8)

"He's gone too!"

Again, there was practically no gap ...

... before the next chick took to the skies!

(Chick 9)

Only three to go now.

The next chick decided that it was better off outside ...

... and left just as suddenly as the last one!

(Chick 10)

This left just two of our 12 chicks.

Clearly, one of them did not want to be left by itself in the nest box.

Will it - won't it?

Clearly the last chick doesn't want to know!

Yes it will!

(Chick 11)

"Don't leave me!!"

The last chick is now left in the box by itself.

"I'm just having a little look outside".

Yippee!!

(Chick 12)

And now the box is empty except for three little poops beneath the exit hole.

A parent comes back to check that all the chicks have left the box.

She finds the mess  and as she is a good mother, she does the usual thing and clears it up!

She makes three visits to make sure it is all clean again.

Then the nest box is really empty at last!

There are just the 6 chicks in Box1 to go now!