A Squash and a Squeeze

There is enough natural light now to see into the nest box at 4:40a.m. Lola first left this morning at 4:53a.m.


The warmest day since the chicks hatched saw a couple of them leave the nest cup for the first time. Perhaps they were trying to cool down a bit. It must get very warm in there with all that wool.

This was the first chick to jump ship.

And, of course, when one does it another has to copy. This time, though, the chick wasn't quite so keen, and after thirty seconds it dived straight back into the nest cup in one swift movement.

Five in, and one out (bottom left-hand corner).

Stretching up high for food, the stray chick fell backwards and back into the nest cup five hours after he left it. This picture clearly shows how the feathers have come on it the past two days - and we can see where the black chest stripe will be.
The six of them - safely in the nest cup.