The young Redpolls were 11 days old yesterday and when I went  to visit the nest briefly in the late morning, as you can see they are almost fully developed and in full feather.  I could not visit today unfortunately because of musical commitments.  (I am  the musical director of a Brass Band who are competing in the French Brass Band Championships over the weekend and we leave later today.)

At the nest site it was very windy and it had been raining heavily over night.  I feared for their safety because not only was the air quite cool for the time of year it was also extremely wet under foot.  If the juveniles chose to leave the nest in these conditions it would not have been ideal.  I need not have worried though. The gorse bush was swaying in the strong wind but  the young birds were not phased at all and looked very fit and strong.  It wasn't long before the female came to the nest to feed them followed 35 minutes later by the male, only the 3rd time I had seen him at the nest. Young birds are very resilient.