Coldwaterjohn's photos with the keyword: Oystercatcher egg

For the 17th year in a row, and possibly longer, our oyster catchers have decided to build their "nest" (if you can call their shallow scrape a nest!) in the pond garden. This year they have chosen a site on the island, which is marginally more sensible than the woodchip-strewn steps up the hillock. So far there is only the one egg; most years they produce three eventually.

Oystercatcher egg about to hatch. This is the last remaining egg of the three. There is absolutely no sign of the other two. I suspect as soon as they hatch, they are escorted into dense undergrowth most probably. The other alternative is that some predator took the eggs, but that is unlikely as the nest has been guarded throughout by both birds - one sitting on it, whilst the other perches on a good lookout post nearby.