This
is Della's last recorded visit to the nest box. She arrives at 11.46
and goes straight inside.
Della
in Box2.
Sam
arrives a few seconds later.
Della
hears Sam outside and begs for food.
After
a few seconds havering, he followed her inside ...
... and duly delivers!
As
usual, after feeding her, Sam immediately turns to go.
Sam
on his way.
Della
allows herself the luxury of one very careful wriggle - after all, there are
probably 2 eggs there!
Then
she too flies off.That is the last time we have seen Della!
So what has become of her? The most likely explanation is that she has been predated by, for example, a sparrowhawk which we have often seen hunting in the area. Della was not showing any signs of becoming bored with nesting - and she was continuing to be supported by her partner, Sam. It must be most unlikely that she has just gone off the idea of bringing up a brood of chicks.
This is the first time that a female that has started laying, has apparently disappeared into thin air. Let's hope we are luckier with Box1 and Box3!
At
7:48 the next morning, what looks like a male bluetit arrives outside Box2.Our assumption is that this is Sam, and he is wondering what has happened to Della too.
After
a short while, he takes a look inside the box ... 
... but seeing nothing, he flies off.
At
the end of the day, the nest box is still empty. Della is no longer
roosting there.
However,
to counter the gloom, Donna has decided to start roosting in Box1 tonight!Let's hope the sparrowhawk doesn't get her too!