I found a mysterious egg in my raised bed - help!

[Noosner]

Today I was raking over my new raised bed ready to do some planting and found an egg, buried shallowly in the soil. It was smaller than a hen's egg but bigger than a garden bird's egg. It was fresh (not a boiled egg from someone's packed lunch, tossed over the fence, which was the first thing that crossed my mind!) and very warm. I am TOTALLY mystified as to where it has come from. I'm hoping it's the egg of a small dragon. But seriously, if anyone has any ideas, please let me know!!

[bearded bloke]

Partridge maybe ?

"The eggs are smooth and glossy, yellowish-white with reddish-buff or greyish markings, and about 41 mm by 31 mm."

taken from ... http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/..._partridge.htm

[Noosner]

Partridge maybe ?

"The eggs are smooth and glossy, yellowish-white with reddish-buff or greyish markings, and about 41 mm by 31 mm."

taken from ... British Garden Birds - Red-legged Partridge

Ooh that does sound a possibility BB. The size mentioned in that link matches, and the fact that they nest in hollows in the ground. A bit odd that there was only one egg there, though.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Stolen by a predator and hidden maybe.

[Bill HH]

I would put it back it might be the first of her clutch.

[Noosner]

That's an idea, PTD. Wonder what sort of predator. Our plots all have rabbit proof chicken wire fences, so nothing much can get in. Well, very small or very big things could, but there was no sign of major disturbance.

I did put it back, Bill. And I must remember to put some sort of marker as to where it is, otherwise I'll end up putting my fork through it! Annoyingly, it is in a prime spot, but I didn't like to move it far in case what you say is right.

[brownfingers]

Probably partridge. I get them in my garden. Quite tame they are. Don't rate it when they are pecking at the door at 5 in the morning trying to stir me into giving them something to eat.

[Noosner]

Thank you BF, for more confirmation. There certainly are some biggish birds about down at lottie, including birds of prey (my neighbour found a headless collared dove on her plot last year - bird mafia overtones) which is lightly wooded on three sides and near a river. I will leave the egg where it is. Was just mentioning on another thread that my pear tree has set fruit - seems appropriate that we have now been visited by a partridge!

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have hunted partridge and whilst they nest on the ground I have never seen a nest on open ground.

They like foliage that combined with their plumage gives them great cover to the extent that if you have not got a dog to scent them out they will sit tight and let you walk over them. One of them nearly got their own back on a mate of mine by only moving when he was going to tread on it, poor man nearly had a heart attack.

[Richard Eldritch]

It's a chicken egg buried by a fox. Funny thing is I was discussing the same thing last night with a nieghbour. They dig them out of bin bags and bury them for later.

[brownfingers]

I get buzzards over my garden. Sometimes up to five at once. Resident sparrowhawk keeps smaller birds on their toes!

[Noosner]

That's interesting, PTD. Bold birds!

RE, that sounds a good theory as the egg was buried in the soil. But I can't see how a fox can have got onto my plot. Unless it jumped over the fence. Can foxes jump 4'?

BF, we get buzzards too. I love them! Also sometimes red kites.

Thanks everyone for your help. I will let you know of any developments next time I go down to the lottie!

[Bill HH]

That's interesting, PTD. Bold birds!

. Can foxes jump 4'?

!

Most definitely. Perhaps not so easy with an egg in its mouth.

[Noosner]

Most definitely. Perhaps not so easy with an egg in its mouth.

Thanks, Bill. Probably even more true now Mr Noosner has told me the fences are actually 3'.

[Nicos]

here..look at these videos...

Athletic Fox - YouTube

Foxes can climb - YouTube

Fox Climbs to Top of 12 foot (4m) Hedge - YouTube

Fox jumps over fence - YouTube


That's why electric fencing to go around a chicken run tends to be floppy, so they have problems climbing it.