i can't believe i missed it...

so- since the end of june i had been watching those dang quail eggs... remember?  so everyday, multiple times everyday, i would check in on them.  i even went so far as to google the incubation period for the little babes.  anyway, long story short-- the morning of my birthday i checked on bright & early.  but nothing.  when i went out later that day i found this... 

yep, just egg shells.  no babies, no mama.  just shells.  all i can hope is that they hatched & i just missed it.  total bummer!  but, as long as they survived... that's all that matters.