The incomplete clutch of the Little Grebe that I found last week is now a full clutch of 4. These birds are double brooded and the eggs have an incubation period of 21 days. As the nest was found on the 25th April with two eggs, laying an egg a day the hatching should be around the 17th May. This is when it gets difficult as the species can swim almost immediately after hatching therefore gaining evidence of fledging is difficult
This Moorhen nest found with a single egg on the same day is now clutched on 6 eggs. The statistics are the same as Little Grebe. Last year I was lucky enough to find two chicks on the water next to the nest just hatched, a further one hatching and another 4 eggs in the nest. A sight not seen by many birdwatchers
I also found an active Magpie nest however that will have to wait until tomorrow. I looked at the Blackthorn tree, looked at my chest waders and - Nah......
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