Another overcast and slightly damp day with a cool high of 14.9°C, although last night the temperature dipped to 2.7°C, which was the coldest night for 3.5 weeks.

Cold weather and chicks don't always go well together, so let's hope that doesn't continue!

It was a bit like waiting outside a maternity unit this morning, and we kept checking the screens but no signs of anything beginning to emerge from an egg could be seen.

That wasn't surprising really, as today is the 13th day, and the past two seasons have seen incubation take 14 days.

Ever mindful that this pair never do anything by the rule book, we were on alert ...

It looked like the female had been particularly fidgety this morning, and we just got that gut feeling that she knew something we didn't.

Egg Number 1
The first egg started to break open at 1.10pm in full view of the camera as the female had left the box for a few minutes.

However (and he really has been an interesting character this year) the male was inside the box having one of his confused 'Where are you? I've brought food!' moments.

As the pictures below show, he was up at the hole when right behind him the centre egg began to open. Several seconds later and a slightly shocked male was looking down over his first born:

The sight of a chick emerging was enough to subdue his mood, and he stood over the spectacle for 45 seconds before deciding that he better run for the door.

He didn't actually leave the box, and looked as if he was trying to get the attention of the absent female.

Within a few seconds he was back over the eggs and the female entered behind him, with a small beak full of nesting material!

She dropped the strands in favour of the food (which she ate herself) and then the two proud parents momentarily looked down in to the nest together to admire their new baby:

The chick wasn't even completely out as the female started to eat the shell from around the wriggling pink chick:

She continued to work away at what was presumably the top half of the shell for four minutes before producing a larger piece which she then consumed:

Having just finished the shell, the male brought in a Caterpillar which the female took and tried to feed to the chick:

There will be some amusing videos to show over the coming days as food is brought in that looks far too big for a chick to handle.

OK, enough words ... here are the videos everyone will want to see:

Chick number one breaks free behind an oblivious male, and then Mum returns home.

The female eats the shell and then tries to offer a Caterpillar to the chick beneath her, along with many chirps of encouragement.

The male made repeated trips into the box with food over the next 20 minutes, and each time the female tentatively tried to offer it, but each time ended up with an extra meal for herself.

Having a new arrival didn't stop her from leaving the box every now and then, and just 50 minutes after the youngster had broken free, the male got his chance at last ... the male tried to feed the eggs! ... well one chick and 7 eggs anyway.

The trouble was, the newborn either didn't look very interested, or when it did muster up the strength to raise its head, he looked the other way because of some noises outside the box:

50 Minutes old.

There will be a second diary entry later today, but at 4.00pm there are still another 7 eggs intact ...

How exciting!