May is a month of waiting. Nests have been constructed, eggs laid and now the parent birds sit it out and wait. Let’s hope this moorhen’s nest on a branch over the river Tyne at Haddington survives any deluges of water. The swan has her nest on an island in the middle of the river.
Hogganfield Loch just outside Glasgow has man made nesting platforms which the Great Crested Grebes make use of.
This attentive partner was continuing to dredge up material to add to the nest.
Here a great crested grebe and a coot share a platform.
I’ve been away on the Isle of Jura and saw some other birds waiting patiently on their stony nests. This gull had a nest of twigs on the stony beach.
This oystercatcher doesn’t bother with twigs but lays her eggs in amongst the rounded stones.
Here they are, obvious enough when framed in the centre of a photograph but not at all easy to spot otherwise.
We left Jura today before being able to see the eggs hatched. However for this mallard duck the waiting game was over.
The Hogganfield mallards had ducklings too. I can’t wait to go back and see if the great crested grebes have their chicks, as I’ve never seen one before.
As for the barn owls. As far as I know the eggs are hatching, but my camera connection to the owl box has not been working the past two weeks. Hopefully I’ll be able to give an update on some owlets soon. I’ve had to wait patiently too.
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 