Well now I ve got a dilemma

Oh No BlueBelle!!! I do hope he appears soon. It sounds worrying. Even if, in the very unlikley event, that a urban fox jumped over the wall, there would be evidence I think.

He is not likely to go anywhere at night, but perhaps at first light. Could he have jumped to the top of the wall? I hope so much that there is a happy outcome.

Oh no!

This morning I came downstairs and there was no Stephen at the back door I prepared his pilchards and did my ususal clucking noises but he didn’t come running it’s been raining most of the last 24 hours so thinking he didn’t want to venture out I went to look in his ‘nest’ ... it was empty, nothing, no sign of Stephen. I ve been all round the garden 3 times with a stick looking under the undergrowth and the shrubs and bushes nothing not a sound, not a peep, Stephen isn’t here but where can he be my first thought was a cat but there is no signs of any feathers no blood, nothing, a cat couldn’t take him without a fight although he’s a baby he’s big and got a big old peck on him I don’t think a cat could’ve got him without a fight and would need to jump up over my six -foot wall with him in its mouth and no blood or feathers anywhere
My garden is completely enclosed brick on three sides and a new very firm 8 foot fence and gate that’s locked and not been used for weeks I live on the main road, all the gardens around here are concreted for cars and garage so there is no other wildlife apart from neighbouring cats and birds that ever come to my garden
I’ve been round the garden twice it’s only small 20 x 20 poking in all the undergrowth all the shrubs it is very green at the moment but there is no sign anywhere, and he didn’t used to go far anyway I only ever saw him go up two paths or to his food or nest I ve been out to the back alleyway again nothing no body no feathers nothing ......there is no Stephen and no clues
I fed him last night as usual before I went to bed and he trotted out from his nest and ate it all up I watched him for a while then he waddled back to his nest in the rain
His mum was talking to him last night from the rooftop in fact she squawked at me when I took his food out

Somethings happened overnight but what !!!

Maybe he’s like most babies and sleeps a lot! I guess mum might be out getting food for herself and perhaps has other chicks, too.

It’s all a lovely story for lockdown! ❤️

She was definitely talking to him yesterday but haven’t heard anything today I hope he’s not lonely, but maybe they don’t have the same feelings as us He s stays in his ‘nest‘ quite a lot but then I suppose he would if he was ‘at home’ He does have a cautious walk round the garden a couple of times a day He was trying to peck my compost bag today I was hoping it wouldn’t break the plastic and it didn’t, that’s about it really, he has two different calls that I ve identified one does seem a cry and I ve heard other babies making the same sound the other is a more contended sound a very quiet little short short squeak, repeated I ll have to learn the language ?

Comparing him today to your first photos - he’s absolutely thriving on his diet of sardines and cat food! . Is his mum still about, Bluebell?

So pleased - and relieved - to read that Stephen's still heading in the right direction! You're doing a fantastic job

I noticed that one of 'our' young starling's feathers were changing from brown to their adult iridescent colours. I'll really miss their baby-ness behaviour!

There is a children’s book in this lovely story, BlueBelle and you already have the illustrations. Stephen now has an international fan club wishing him (and his mum) well.

Oh how lovely susan
My friends grandson nearly 6 is mad about all nature and I ve been passing on the story and photos to him too

Stephen Sebastian you are famous

Loving following Stephen’s adventures BlueBelle.Our granddaughter was here when you first told us about him so all photos have to be screenshot and sent to her!She is loving following the adventures of BlueBelle and Stephen?

A week today since Stephen fell down my chimney into my bedroom he has weathered the storm so far
Yesterday I caught him on an old tree stump flexing his wings Neck extended and trying to practise taking off he’s way too young, no tail yet no flight feather on his wings and a Still fluffy chick But he’s practising which is a good sign

Could he be 're christened Steven Seagal?

How’s Stephen Sebastian today?

I haven’t read all this thread but obviously the young gull has survived several days.
Years ago I rescued a gull, put him in the shed and fed him tinned fish. As he got stronger he pecked me harder and demanded more fish and began exercising his wings.
I took him outside and opened my hands and he took off. I watched him fly all the way up the valley then out of sight.
I never forgot the thrill nor the beauty of the white bird flying away.
I do hope BlueBell’s bird does the same.

Bluebelle Well done you, you did a great job, I reckon you saved this little chap's life, good on you and without any help from services. Some people would have been calling The Fire Brigade. You've done your bit for Nature this weekend.

He doesn’t need a faux nest...he has made his own one.I wonder if he will return to you for food once he is an adult?

Really enjoying hearing about our Stephen.

Bluebelle Thank you for the updates. It’s all looking so positive ?? You’re doing a brilliant job!

Well today Stephen popped out to see me as soon as I made some clucking noises at breakfast time I gave him his food and went in, he cautiously ate it all up, there is a low bowl (well it’s a plant pot saucer) of water next to it but I haven’t seen him have any yet
I m feeding him three times a day (I ve read up)
This afternoon I was pleased to hear him having a conversation with his mum on the roof I don’t think she can get into my garden as it quite small and very full at the moment ( No landing strip) anyway he was using a quiet little chirruppy voice and she was calling back, this went on for quite a while about 15 minutes and when I quietly went out for something Mums voice went into a loud screech so she was obviously saying ‘stay away‘ and still looking out for him
So far so good
Here’s today’s picture it ll be fun to see his plumage change if he stays with me

BlueBelle
You are working wonders with this poor creature. I think we are all enthralled with the regular updates about Stephen so please keep 'em coming! Well done, lovely lady! ❤️

bluebelle. Or maybe bluebird. I’ve enjoyed following this so much. It has done nothing but rain against a dark sky all this week and your story has brightened everything up. Please, please keep the thread up to date. Thank you so much.

Looks as though you have a permanent lodger! S/He’s not daft! ??

I got home from work about 2 pm went straight to the garden to say hello to Stephen couldn’t find him anywhere it’s not a big garden but full of greenery I hunted high and low thinking oh no he can’t have got out ...anyway I put some cat food out and as soon as I went indoors there he was eating his dinner when he finished I quietly followed him and he’s made a sort of hidey hole amongst old fallen leaves under my big old caster oil plant its darkish and shady and hopefully nice and safe (bit lonely though)
Here he is going back to his ‘nest’

I’m so longing for a Happy Ever After!

Twice this week I’ve been worried about two baby starlings that appeared to have been abandoned. I watched and waited and eventually their Mums turned up. A bit like the babies ‘parked’ outside shops in their prams and Mums arriving home, then frantically racing back to retrieve them! ??

It's looking like you have become a surrogate mum bluebell!!!
He / she is so cute.