Day 16

Meg had a lie in this morning - until 5:21am!

The nest box lights were turned on just before 8am and I wasn't sure if I'd find 5 chicks alive, or just 4.

I could see four of them straight away...

Two of them had a little kiss...

and just three minutes later, after a quick shift around, five chicks are visible. Phew!

And then it's time for a quick stretch...

Meg & Ted arrive together with some more breakfast.


A tasty green caterpillar about to be delivered...

Yum! That's a pretty big mouthful!

Some more exercise time; wing-flapping!

Lots of preening going on now, too; they have to look their best when they leave!

Getting yourself noticed when food comes in... If you look in the mouth of the bottom chick you will see a sunflower heart - this was taken back off that chick and passed to the one flapping its wings!

One of the chicks finds a comfortable spot of the top of his sibling's head...

Sparrows and starlings have been showing an interest in the nest over the past few days - this is the reaction a sparrow got.

We know the sparrows can't get in there now, but I don't know how far down a starling would manage to reach. Hopefully the double thickness entrance hole is enough to stop them reaching for the youngsters. It's something we will probably do on the new box for next year (along with a few other adjustments)

All five gapes!



"My turn, Mum!"


"Look at my wings, Mum!"


The family portrait...

Someone decides to go for an evening stroll... look at his miniature tail...

Another pretty uneventful day over with! Not many more to go now...