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Post by sammi on Jun 3, 2019 8:44:10 GMT
Glad they are doing well Beechnut. We had some young GTs at the feeders today with the parent and they were so chubby and seemed to be getting a good selection of what was on offer for them. I wish they'd nest in my boxes ......maybe next year
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jun 5, 2019 7:10:05 GMT
They look real beauties Beechnut, parents have done an amazing job this year. Good luck when they fledge as I may be away on holiday so will be late responding. icon_biggrin
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Post by Beechnut on Jun 5, 2019 9:28:39 GMT
Should be around the middle of next week Kathy - they are all feathered up, doing much preening and even started wing exercising.
Hope you enjoy your holiday.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jun 5, 2019 11:49:54 GMT
You've had a good season Beechnut, Very happy for you!
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Post by suep on Jun 5, 2019 12:39:58 GMT
Hope they get away safely Beechnut, not sure if i’ll Have WiFi so wishing them well now Sue
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Post by Beechnut on Jun 7, 2019 10:50:29 GMT
Thanks Sue. They are getting well feathered up now and have frequent spells out of the cup to exercise their wings. I think I may well have to connect up the recorder and timer sometime over the weekend - I can't see them being over long in the nest! This one looks quite large - but in reality is just over half his mum's size.
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Post by YorksherLass on Jun 7, 2019 15:24:15 GMT
Lovely photo Beechnut & yes, it would be nice if you do decide to reconnect the recorder & timer over the weekend - then you won't miss it if anything happens!
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Post by sammi on Jun 7, 2019 16:35:23 GMT
Looking good Beechnut. I hope they can find a dry day to take their maiden flights.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jun 7, 2019 18:48:01 GMT
Glad all is well Beechnut.
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Post by Beechnut on Jun 9, 2019 7:55:15 GMT
The five are out of the cup this morning. Four of the five are busy pruning, stretching and wing exercising, while the fifth one ( last to hatch?) is sitting in the corner, not really doing anything. I don't think they should go today, 17 days from hatching, but it would be better than Monday or Tuesday as heavy rain is forecast here for then.
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Post by sammi on Jun 9, 2019 8:12:18 GMT
Hope they fledge safely whenever they go. 17 days seems too soon like you say. I wonder what the parents take into account when deciding?
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Post by Beechnut on Jun 10, 2019 6:30:22 GMT
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jun 10, 2019 8:16:32 GMT
Hopefully they stay snug in the box and fledge on a better day weather wise
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Post by Beechnut on Jun 11, 2019 10:06:51 GMT
All 5 firmly entrenched in the box at the moment.
Although it's not raining at the moment, we have rain periods of varying intensities forecast for the next 60 hours, so if they don't go in the next few hours, it might be Thursday or Friday before they vacate the luxury of a relatively warm and dry nestbox.
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Post by Beechnut on Jun 11, 2019 10:12:00 GMT
Snuggled Up!
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Post by YorksherLass on Jun 11, 2019 11:48:54 GMT
They do look cosy, dry & warm Beechnut so let's hope they don't leave the nest until Thursday at the earliest. Our weather is diabolical today, lashing rain, cold, the same for tomorrow & regarding fluctuating temps I mentioned to Paul, next week they're going up to 23 degrees celsius - I never know from day to day what clothes to put on!
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Post by sammi on Jun 11, 2019 18:46:40 GMT
They do look so cosy. Stay put and keep warm would be my advice it's cold out there. Our heating has gone back on!
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Post by Beechnut on Jun 12, 2019 4:49:57 GMT
To add to the trials and tribulations of this season, I have my own episode to add.....
Despite the really awful weather, my GTs decided to go last evening around 7 pm, or rather four of them did, but the fifth one, when it eventually managed to land on hole during one of it's many flutters around the nestbox, couldn't work out how to get through to the outside world.
It consistently got it's face through the hole, but didn't have the claws through, so it couldn't launch out and then fly. Instead, it kept trying to fly with the whole body still in the box!
After about an hour Tuppence put in an appearance on the bracket outside, but didn't go in. She flew off and returned later with a mealie, which was eagerly devoured. She did some nest cleaning and then left
After another couple of feeds, she came back and roosted with the youngster, leaving some time after 5 am. She has brought it a couple of mealies, but apart from a few stretches, there has been no attempt by the chick of flying up on to the hole to even have a look, let alone fledge....
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Post by YorksherLass on Jun 12, 2019 11:12:42 GMT
Like you Beechnut, I'm surprised that four of them chose to fledge yesterday, but at least they managed it safely. As for the remaining chick still in the nestbox today, some would say that he's the only one with sense to leave fledging for better weather in a day or two. However, this is not the case is it when he tries to fly inside the box, so he must be the dunce of the family but he could be a genius? - acting daft in front of Tuppence so she stayed the night with him for company - now not attempting to go out into the cold & wet & hoping for a repeat performance from Tuppence tonight!!
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Post by sammi on Jun 12, 2019 11:48:47 GMT
Gosh Beechnut it does make you wonder what the deciding factors are when it comes to fledging time. I think the last one has the right idea...its freezing cold out there. Nice that mum came back for company and warmth last night. Bet she was glad of the excuse
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Post by Beechnut on Jun 12, 2019 14:45:25 GMT
The final chick was left alone in the box just after 5am when 2p departed.
She returned several times with mealies, each time giving him a good talking to - seemingly to no avail as he kept flying around, up an down, landing on the nest hole but never adopting the right attitude to get himself through.
In the end, I could stand it no longer and at just after 6-15 am, I removed the box front and he was gone!
He landed on the fencing behind the rose bush and conifers, sitting on top of a fence post, no doubt calling to Tuppence and/or Tommy, as after a few minutes the two of them appeared each carrying a mealie in their beaks. By this time the chick had taken cover in the conifers.
After a bit of searching, I assume they found him and duly escorted him to the hiding place of his siblings, as they weren't seen searching or calling some minutes later.
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Post by Beechnut on Jun 12, 2019 15:04:09 GMT
Here's the four chicks leaving on Tuesday evening.
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Post by YorksherLass on Jun 12, 2019 15:55:16 GMT
Beechnut! Love the videos but the first one is hilarious when you took off the front of the box! I don't blame you as you don't want the worry of wondering whether he's going to go or not - all gone safely now, so you can relax and watch the telly all night - not that there's that much on though.
so much for the updates and the laughs.
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Post by sammi on Jun 12, 2019 16:58:48 GMT
Well done 2p and Tommy (and Beechnut) all safely on their way. I think number 5 should be called 'Not quite the full shilling' I bet Mum and Dad are glad to have them all out now. All over for another year.
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Post by Beechnut on Jun 13, 2019 10:58:39 GMT
Thanks All, it's been a very interesting year. Good Luck to those who are waiting for a fledge and commiserations to those who have not had that great a season for one reason or another. I hope next year will bring you better fortune. To sign off, I'm posting a couple of vids,- one of the fearless four's outside fledge (one or two appearances of Mum so don't think there are more than four fledglings!) and the other of the lonesome last, after a forced departure, waiting on the fence to be picked up. Goodbye for now.
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