We've been trying to get some pics of our little ones but it's proved to be quite difficult. They hide way down in the nest keeping super still under all those feathers. We managed to get a couple - here's the latest @ 10 days old....(these pics aren't the greatest) As you can see --- it's a mass of feathers (the ones Mama put in there and the babies') ... it's hard to tell which end is which... but you can just make out an eye peeking just left of the egg. We had thought Mama had either removed the 3rd egg or it had dropped down inside the nest --but it 'reappeared' the other day so I guess they had been lying on it. Mama and Papa have been ultra busy feeding.... Papa seems to have some trouble getting inside the box and tends to stick his head in the opening hoping the little ones will take what he has - which wasn't happening being as they were so young and all....seems like he's having more success now. Mama just dives right in there. Here's Mama with supper.... (bit fuzzy - sorry) We think it's a flying grasshopper -- HUGE!! Well-- we have decided not to look inside the box anymore as it's getting close to fledging. We're hoping to start seeing little beaks appearing at the hole soon to take what's being offered. Hopefully we can get some decent pics then! As for our Blues.... they have 4 eggs and we're on day 9 of incubation... : )

Well -- not much happening. Have hardly seen or heard our Flycatchers but last night one paid a visit to the fence near the bird house. Didn't appear to go in. Saw only one again this morning -- 2 x (or two different birds at two different times???) -- it didn't appear to go in -- just sat there calling and calling, but they're sneaky so who knows. May have to try the piece of grass across the entrance trick... We heard a couple calling to each other across the trees but we just keep seeing one on its own -- hope that something hasn't happened to one of the 'pair'. Meanwhile ----- back at the Bluebird Ranch, Mama blue is incubating her 2nd clutch of 4.... with "baby girl" from clutch 1 looking on....

I spy with my little eye.......... Mama has been a very sneaky girl - trying to confuse us with a second nest (and doing a good job I might say!) We left the box alone for a few days - no peeking inside as we didn't want to risk spooking them just in case they were still planning on using it. This morning Hubby was outside 'talking' to the birds....when he spied Mama on the fence. He backed away into the house at which point we crawled (literally) to a window close by and slowly eased open the blind. Mama edged cautiously towards the nest and hopped in. I proceeded to stand guard and watched for 25 mins. Just as I was beginning to feel stupid...(i.e. thinks to self "why am I watching an empty box, she obviously flew out while I glanced away....") who should pop her head out and then fly to the tree! Needless to say we were excited -- we could only imagine her doing 1 or 2 things for 25 mins in there. ANYHOO ---- we waited til this evening to take a peek. It's very difficult to get the camera in for a good shot as the nest is so high and add to that it has been so windy we didn't want to open the box too far and have the wind disturb the nest. We could see one egg very clearly but think there may be three. It's very hard to see on the pic but you should be able to make out at least one AND of course, the snake skin.... she's got quite a bit of it in there. The pic below is just of one side of the nest from directly facing the front....lots of feathers, plastic, and snake skin you can just make out at the back...and by the animal hair which has been moved around.... We're sooooooo excited. Hopefully when this wind dies down we can try again... maybe tomorrow evening. We don't want to check too often but will keep this updated for those interested. Back to our Blues, it seems they're starting to drop the odd pine needled in a different box so fingers crossed. We're having fun watching the babies learn to fend for themselves right now!! Watched one of the 'boys' find himself a nice looking bug yesterday only to have Dad jump in a steal it from him.... awwww~~~

So... it turns out hubby was in the middle of trying to make something to eat when he noticed action at the box, a lot of commotion from Mama and Papa trying to coax them out of the box. He spent 30 mins running back and forth between living room and kitchen windows and his food. The camera was set up on a tripod at the window and he got a couple of pics of heads peeking out. After a while he remembered the video option so started filming. (We would put a link to the video but 1. you can barely see the bird and 2. there's a little cursing as he realizes he can't see and doesn't have his glasses!!!) Hubby felt sure he'd missed it leave but after watching the video was surprised to find that as he went for his glasses the first bird flew out so he did capture it afterall - if you blink you miss it! Unfortunately he had set the video for the second bird... had his finger poised over the record button, turned to pick his glasses up off the table - turned back to the record button and ... woosh - there it was flying off before he could press, but he did see it fly safely to the trees. (I think a nest cam is definitely on this year's list for Santa!!) Of course, they have chosen a miserable rainy day to fledge, what a welcome to the world!! Kathy, if you're reading this, he saw a flycatcher go into the nest in the satellite twice a couple of hours apart so maybe there is something going on there too. If that's the case they should be fledging shortly also.