After two days of watching with no chicks leaving, today saw all six chicks successfully fledge from the nest. I must apologies for some quailty of the images, as the outside camera is wireless and was suffering from some kind of interferance at the time. This year I have tried a new idea and made the final fledge photos animated.

We turned on the cameras early today to make sure we did not miss any action. Unlike the previous year (2009) we were unable to watch the chicks flegde live, so we have only just had the chance to review all the video. All six chicks left within two hours.

The day started with all six chicks preening their wings. Betty and Gordon were still visiting with food but trying very hard to tempt the chicks out. They are now 21 days old.

	All six chicks still in the box at 07:00

The first chick flew upto the entrance hole at around 09:12 and took a good look outside. It must have seen strange to it as all it has seen is four wooden walls for the last 21 days! The first chick finally took the plundge and left the nest at around 09:14 and flew towards the tall trees.

	Chick 1 fledged at around 09:14		Chick 2 fledged at around 09:15

After the first chick had left Betty came into the box with some food and to clean up the nestcup. The second chick blocked the way for a short time and Betty was foreced to wait with her chicks.

	Betty feeds one of the chicks		Chick 2 blocks Betty from leaving whilst it investigates

The second fledged at around 09:15, very shorly after Betty managed to exit first. This chick also appeared to fly to the tall trees.

After around 18 minutes the third chick flew upto the hole and successfully fledged at around 09:36. This chick seemed to fly in a different direction and must have flew into our neighbours Cherry tree.

The last three chicks took a little longer to leave. Some of the time they seemed to be scared or spooked by something, perhaps being on their own after all this time. After around 40 minutes the next one fledged.

	Chick 3 fledged at around 09:36		Three to go!

Just before it did Betty came to the box to feed it. After a quick feed the fourth chick fledged around 10:15.

	Betty feeds the chick before it fledged		Chick 4 fledged at around 10:15

The last two chicks did not take long to fledge after the fourth and left the nest at 10:16, within seconds of each other. The last three chicks seemed to fly down quiet low into possibly our low headge. We hope they then flew up higher to safety.

	Chick 5 fledged at around 10:16		Chick 6 fledged at around 10:16

With the last chick gone the nest box fell silent. Gone were the noise of the chicks and it felt rather strange and sad that the long wait for next year had begun. All that remained is some unremoved fecal sacks.

	The empty nest

I have added some animated version of the chicks fledging on the main summary pages and once I have managed to go through all the 2010 season video I will be adding some video clips. Please keep an eye on the home page for more details.

Hopefully some of the chicks will make it through the next few months and we will have another nest or even possbily a Great Tit, following the pair earlier trying to claim box 3 in 2011. Good luck little chicks!

In August I will clean out the box and add a new diary entry with some photos of the nest. So for now I will fade away and will leave our website open to everyone who wants to read through our little story of a pair of Blue Tits who built, laid six eggs and successfully got six chicks through. I will be back again in September 2010, when I begin looking out for roosting Blue Tits or maybe even a Great Tit!

Sometimes we get the House Sparrows nest in Box 2. If they do we will be back with a mini website. Even possibly the Great Tit's may have a second brood and use one of our boxes? If anything new happens we will let you know.

Thanks to all our visitors and to everyone who sent in emails & comments. Goodbye for now. Regards Ben.