Williamson's Weekly Nature Notes

Half a dozen blackbird's eggs, song thrush and pheasant's eggs show where the thief has taken its trophies, broken into the shell and enjoyed a hearty breakfast.

I suppose they enjoy their Easter eggs as much as do we. Very often an old bird's nest in the hedgerows will contain broken shells where the magpie has dug in without bothering to carry them away.

That may depend on how much fuss the rightful owner made during the attack on their property. In the Arun valley last year I found a very unusual small pile of shells.

They turned out to be redshank's eggs. Very few redshanks now breed in Sussex, about a couple of dozen pairs perhaps, and most appear unsuccessful, with hardly any young seen.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette April 15