Another shot of the now (relatively!) harmonious couple.
This sequence again shows how the two birds get on together.
Spikey is on the nest and Bess comes into the box.
Bess lands near to Spikey, but not on top of her.
She comes closer . . .
. . . and burrows down into the edge of the nest cup.
Spikey gets the idea that she is not wanted - and starts to get up off the nest cup.
Bess seems to give her a friendly push to send her on her way.
Spikey takes the hint . . .
. . . moves towards the exit . . .
. . . and departs leaving Bess able to take over the incubation duties.
We have observed that although there are so many eggs that one or two at the edges of the nest are not always covered by the incubating female, to counter this the time the eggs are completely uncovered is minimal.
Bess spreads her wings slightly so that she covers all of the eggs.