Tuesday 26 July 2011

Hatched .......and gone!


Yes - it looks as though the pheasant has hatched four chicks - there are also four unhatched eggs - and gone. I suspect she only hatched them overnight because something will fetch those unhatched eggs very quickly (rat, magpie, crow).

The pattern with pheasants - and indeed with most ground-hatching birds- is that they hatch out the chicks and then, as soon as they can, they get them into the cover of the hedgebacks, out of the way of the many predators.

So now we must keep our eye open for them around the fields. I'm glad at least some of them made it. While out looking to see if the pheasant had gone we also found our first field mushroom. Some years we have quite a lot and other years we find none at all, so keep fingers crossed for a good crop this year - there is nothing like them for taste.

Grey and cool here today - not very good for the hay, but better forecast for the rest of the week.

9 comments:

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Ground hatching birds make me so nervous! I'm happy these appear to have make it. Pheasants are so lovely. Very autumnal birds to me. Enjoy your cool weather... we are sweltering here!! Edward is looking for fall.

Heather said...

Hope the pheasant family is safe - what a stressful life they have. Today began very dull and cool, then brightened and was very warm for several hours, then returned to dull and cool.
Thankyou for your lovely comment on my blog. I have thought the same thing many times when reading your posts.
I think it was you who recommended the books of Roger Deakin. I have acquired Tales from Walnut Tree Farm and Wild Wood, and have just finished reading them. What a delight - so informative and entertaining.

Dartford Warbler said...

I hope the survivors are somewhere safe tonight!

We have had a few field mushrooms this week. Earlier than usual, but I expect there will be more after a damp but warm week.

angryparsnip said...

I wonder how she know the others will not hatch ? is it because the others hatched about the same time and see feels no movement in the other eggs ?
This is all so interesting to me.
I am so glad they hatched and hopeful safe.

cheers, parsnip

Cloudia said...

Magick Nature!



Aloha from Waikiki;


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Midlife Roadtripper said...

Grey and cool can be good. I won't see that in Texas for a very long time. Enjoyed that you shared the pheasant next. Always interesting decisions these animals have to make.

Pondside said...

I hope they're all safe!

The Weaver of Grass said...

The pheasant would leave the eggs when four of them hatched - she probably would not feel movement in the others (as parsnip says) but also it would be important to her to get the others into safety as soon as possible.
Thank you for the comments.
Glad Heather is reading Roger Deaking - he was a real English eccentric and his books make good reading.

Dave King said...

Thanks for that. Is 50% an average result, do you know?