This
shows Babe feeding the chicks at about half past six yesterday
morning.
And
here are five voracious gapes at about half past seven yesterday
evening.
Today the fifth chick has vanished. Has it died? As the chicks have not left the nest cup, I don't believe a woodpecker could reach them from outside the nest.
It's a mystery!
On
a brighter note, this
is the first time we have seen one of Babe's chicks flapping its wings like
this. (S)he really seems to mean it!
It is difficult to get good pictures of the great tit chicks as they look so dark! Their heads will be black of course, but at the moment, all their fluff and feathers look dark grey or black.
They
are certainly eager feeders though. Here Babe doesn't even come fully
into the nest to feed one of her chicks.
It looks a scrawny thing though, doesn't it. All skin and bone - and black too - not a pretty sight!
Still
- someone loves them - even if it is only mum!
Kelly's
chicks are looking more like adults every day. Here they look as
though they are giving her a frosty reception when she comes in to do some
housework.
We thought that they would fledge tomorrow or Tuesday but perhaps that was premature. These chicks are not boisterous enough yet - there will be a lot more wing flapping and wandering around inside the nest box before they start to look outside.
Although most of our bluetits have fledged on the 19th or 20th day after hatching, that's tomorrow or Tuesday, one lot took until the 24th day so you can never be sure!
Sitting
on the edge of the nest cup, as two of them are here, is becoming more
common but they still tend to stay in the nest cup for most of the time.
So, we are going to Pulborough Brooks tomorrow - we don't expect to miss anything!