I was surprised to find that the first chick actually hatched at about 5.00 pm on Wednesday 17th of May.  By Thursday morning, it had been joined by 5 others.  Another hatched over night and the seventh hatched this morning while I was watching.  Right now, at 3.15, there is still one egg left to hatch.

The weather has been dreadful since Wednesday.  We have been having gale force winds and torrential rain.  Luckily, the direction was mostly southerly so the box has been relatively sheltered from the worst of it.  I took the precaution of ordering a supply of mini mealworms as well as my regular supply of standard size one.  I am really pleased that I did, as the parents have been using them to supplement the other grubs that they have been finding.

At first, I was concerned about the length of time that the female was absent from the nest; up to 12 minutes on one occasion.  Nevertheless, the chicks appear to be healthy and thriving.  Both birds have been very busy bringing feeds and the male has been particularly diligent in this role.  Sometimes, he is reluctant to pass the feed to his mate but waits until she moves and allows him his turn at feeding.

In the first clip below, he arrives whilst she is feeding and seem reluctant to hand over the food.  He relents but stays to 'help' out.  In the second clip, you will see the male bring food and then wait until the chick obliges with a faecal sac for him which he takes away.  The third clip was shot this morning and shows her eating the shell.  Click the video icon to watch each video. If you click on the pictures, there are larger versions, as usual.

Both parents have been very busy with the breakfast runs, so far.  Their trips have been hampered by several jackdaws, rooks and the odd magpie taking advantage of scraps that were not cleaned up by the badgers, last night.  I have made several 'recces' to the lounge to dissuade them!