Competition news - it's all over!

[Elizabeth Bigg]

This is the sad message for those who entered the "Guess the date of the first egg" competition.

Fantail has disappeared! At the end of last week, she was missing throughout the day, and we were fearing the worst - but she came in to roost in the evening! When she was missing all the next day, we assumed it was a repeat performance (a final fling, maybe)? However we have not seen her since - her partner Neptune, (so called because of the shape of his tail) spent the whole day calling in the tree, but in vain.

Since then, for some strange reason he has tidied up the nestbox, and removed all the feathers that had been brought in. We are confident that it really was Neptune doing this, because apart from his double forked tail, he has a couple of unusual markings on his back. The photos show the before and after pics of the nestbox.

[joser]

I went on to your website today Elizabeth after not looking at it for about a week and was shocked to hear the news of Fantail. Its such a shame after all the effort that was put in to building the nest. I wonder what has happened.
On a brighter side, at least there is still Fluffy and Barney and their 7 eggs.

[joser]

Also, forgot to mention, I downloaded Java onto my computer so I could view the real time pictures on the web viewer of Fluffy's box. That's fantastic. Wasn't a lot of action at the time, but still, never-the-less, its great to now have the ability to do it. It's brill.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Also, forgot to mention, I downloaded Java onto my computer so I could view the real time pictures on the web viewer of Fluffy's box. That's fantastic. Wasn't a lot of action at the time, but still, never-the-less, its great to now have the ability to do it. It's brill.

Thanks Jo - should get more exciting soon - ETH (estimated time of hatching) is Sunday, and when (if ???? - mustn't count my chicks) it happens, the action should start to hot up a bit. Fluffy will probably stay in the nest most of the time for a few days, and Barney will have to feed several mouths during this period. We'll be ready with the mealworms - Fluffy already comes to the feeder (less than a metre from where I am sitting right now), but I can't yet tell if Barney comes.

[pduxon]

Some of us are sad enough to keep an eye on Fluffy throughout the day - whistles embarrassedly

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Some of us are sad enough to keep an eye on Fluffy throughout the day - whistles embarrassedly

That's not sad Pete! I hope that soon you'll be glued to the screen if/when hatching takes place! I certainly shall, even though this is our fourth year of box-watching.

[helenol]

The red kite webcam should be up and running soon. I'll let you know...

[steve_nova]

Hopefully not next to the Blue Tits!