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Post by matt on May 5, 2021 6:30:42 GMT
Have you had clear sight of an egg yet Karen?
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Post by karenupnorth on May 5, 2021 6:53:16 GMT
No Matt, I am pretty sure she hasnt laid any yet despite how she was acting the other morning, must have been a false alarm I get a good look at the cup from above and have seen nothing. She does spend a lot of time at roosting time and on an early morning messing with the cup and doing almost head stands in it but seen no eggs yet. Surely it cant be long though! All the fur I put out has been taken in so I am trimming the dog today
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Post by matt on May 5, 2021 7:28:21 GMT
Mine is doing exactly the same sort of behaviour, Karen, and I am making exactly the same assumptions! Hard to imagine what else she is doing, though, since the nest is long built and we are already in May! Maybe yours are just well covered?
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Post by karenupnorth on May 5, 2021 7:39:05 GMT
Yeah maybe Matt, although she hasnt done the heavy panting thing like the other morning, I have had the camera running in case, all seems very unpredictable this year, last year all went like clock work. She is still bringing fur in as we speak actually.
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Post by matt on May 5, 2021 7:55:09 GMT
Mine still brings in a couple of tufts of fur and a few downy feathers daily, Karen. It's been so long since I had a nest that I can't remember if this is normal post-egg behaviour or not! Certainly no "real" nest building going on though.
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Post by karenupnorth on May 5, 2021 8:14:12 GMT
I would say it is Matt, after laying an egg they leave it for a little while to dry and then bring some soft stuff to cover them. Whereas Kate is bringing in loads still and shaping the cup. Oh my days time will tell though.
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Post by karenupnorth on May 5, 2021 10:34:41 GMT
After a scrummage around with fluff this appeared, I dint think I am seeing things, but if this arrived on Monday after the egg laying behaviour then there should be two more by now, even more confused than ever but lovely to see quite worryingly though there dose appear to be tiny bits of perhaps shell, maybe one got broke I dont no
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Post by matt on May 5, 2021 10:55:31 GMT
Hard to say Karen, but obviously at least one and perhaps more? I can't make out the bits of shell in that image though.
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Post by karenupnorth on May 5, 2021 11:20:34 GMT
It is more visible on the infrared Matt, I remember it from last year after they had hatched the tiny flecks and it looks a lot like it, hope I am wrong though.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 5, 2021 15:00:16 GMT
Karen, Kate has made a lovely job of making her nest & today she has even more dog fur - I hope your dog isn't feeling the cold with its short back & sides!
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Post by Taz on May 5, 2021 15:29:31 GMT
Looks promising, hopefully there are more. I remember previous years sometimes they look like they're laying but false alarm 🐣
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Post by suep on May 5, 2021 18:48:43 GMT
That egg is great news Karen but isn’t that a second egg in the photo? Or is it just a denser piece of fur. Am sure there are more hidden, they do like to keep us guessing don’t they Sue
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 5, 2021 19:56:28 GMT
Great news about the egg Karen
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Post by karenupnorth on May 6, 2021 6:22:22 GMT
That egg is great news Karen but isn’t that a second egg in the photo? Or is it just a denser piece of fur. Am sure there are more hidden, they do like to keep us guessing don’t they Sue I think its a piece of sheep's wool she stuffed in there. Like you say they keep us guessing
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Post by karenupnorth on May 6, 2021 6:27:56 GMT
Great news about the egg Karen Thanks Paul. Bit confused about the egg count though. I put the camera on each morning about 4.30am, the only time she has appeared to be egg laying is on Sunday morning. Mon Tue Wed no egg laying behaviour, then this morning around 6am she did the egg laying heavy panting and so on, so I believe she laid one this morning. So definitely two. Have you known females to lay a first egg then no more for 4 days?
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Post by karenupnorth on May 6, 2021 8:49:54 GMT
This morning another egg by the looks.
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Post by karenupnorth on May 7, 2021 19:37:50 GMT
Just thought I would pop in as I am having a short break up in Northumberland from tomorrow until Monday . Kate I believe has 3 eggs at the moment and I have just seen a bit of bonkage up in the tree so that should be number 4 sorted I actually hate the thought of not being around to see them I will check in on Monday when I am back and update you all on Kate and Hastings.
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Post by hfriel on May 8, 2021 7:26:05 GMT
Enjoy the break Karen, I am so looking forward to when they let us do that again here Hope there will be lots more eggs when you come back
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Post by karenupnorth on May 11, 2021 5:42:41 GMT
had a great time in Northumberland but is good to be back, I missed my hogs and birds we stayed in our own 4 acre field in a converted Bedford horse truck, nothing but birdsong to e heard, lots of BTs all around. Anyway I am glad to report that Kate has laid her 7th egg this morning and does appear to be incubating. But worryingly havnt seen or heard Hastings since getting back thankfully she has found the live worm feeder EDIT; not incubating as first thought, must of been having a lie in.
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Post by matt on May 11, 2021 8:03:57 GMT
Nice one Karen, looking for a minimum of 8 or 9 then? I have absolutely no idea how many mine has laid!!
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Post by karenupnorth on May 11, 2021 8:32:46 GMT
Looks that way Matt, I am just glad she has seen the feeder, if she ends up alone then it will help
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Post by matt on May 11, 2021 9:45:03 GMT
Good news on the feeder Karen. I'm so glad mine are using my feeder now. Back when I had my nest before, I just couldn't get her to notice them - I put them progressively closer and closer to the nest, but no joy. This time I have a more established feeding station anyway, and the bluetits come for fatballs, so it didn't actually take too long (and a few small modifications) before they were going in. They love it now! Certainly takes a bit of the worry away, knowing she will have easy access to as much feed as she needs.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 11, 2021 10:37:24 GMT
Karen, glad you enjoyed your weekend away. It's good to know that Kate is OK & surviving thanks to your help with food, but a shame you haven't seen Hastings though. Let's hope he puts in an appearance soon.
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Post by karenupnorth on May 11, 2021 10:40:16 GMT
7 eggs this morning. Still haven't seen Hastings, but I have just seen another male feeding Kate. So they have a very open relationship
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Post by matt on May 11, 2021 10:46:28 GMT
Nice clear view of the eggs Karen. Mine never seems to leave them uncovered!
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