oyster catcher eggs gone

[code_wrong]

Hi,
We had an Oyster Catcher lay two eggs in the gravel behind our house .. now
two weeks later there are none ..they are gone .. no sign ofthe birds either
..the dip in the sand contains nothing but a few twigs ...
My questions:
how long do these birds incubate?
Should there be eggshells left after hatching?
How long would the chicks have stayed in the nest had they hatched?
Would a fox or other egg snatcher leave some evidence if the nest was
raided?
cheeer
cw

[Malcolm]

Post by code_wrong
Hi,
We had an Oyster Catcher lay two eggs in the gravel behind our house .. now
two weeks later there are none ..they are gone .. no sign ofthe birds either
..the dip in the sand contains nothing but a few twigs ...
how long do these birds incubate?

24-27 days.

Post by code_wrong
Should there be eggshells left after hatching?

No, the adults remove them.

Post by code_wrong
How long would the chicks have stayed in the nest had they hatched?

Up to 24 hours.

Post by code_wrong
Would a fox or other egg snatcher leave some evidence if the nest was
raided?

No.

[Larry Stoter]

Post by code_wrong
Hi,
We had an Oyster Catcher lay two eggs in the gravel behind our house .. now
two weeks later there are none ..they are gone .. no sign ofthe birds either
..the dip in the sand contains nothing but a few twigs ...
how long do these birds incubate?
Should there be eggshells left after hatching?
How long would the chicks have stayed in the nest had they hatched?
Would a fox or other egg snatcher leave some evidence if the nest was
raided?
cheeer
cw

Oystercatchers incubate for 24-27 days (Concise BWP). Generally, most
wader chicks leave the nest immediately or within 2-3 days.

Two weeks and no shells in the nest suggests the eggs have been taken.
Fox, stoat, badger are all possible ...

[Malcolm Kane]

Post by Larry Stoter

Post by code_wrong
Hi,
We had an Oyster Catcher lay two eggs in the gravel behind our house .. now
two weeks later there are none ..they are gone .. no sign ofthe birds either
..the dip in the sand contains nothing but a few twigs ...
how long do these birds incubate?
Should there be eggshells left after hatching?
How long would the chicks have stayed in the nest had they hatched?
Would a fox or other egg snatcher leave some evidence if the nest was
raided?
cheeer
cw

Oystercatchers incubate for 24-27 days (Concise BWP). Generally, most
wader chicks leave the nest immediately or within 2-3 days.
Two weeks and no shells in the nest suggests the eggs have been taken.
Fox, stoat, badger are all possible ...

While on the subject of Oyster Catchers are they becoming more urban and
do they ever nest on roofs?

Recently (the last couple of years or so) I have seen pairs of Oyster
Catchers in at least 2 places locally which are well away from what I
would call normal habitat. One pair frequenting school playing fields
and the other grass verges near a lorry park. I can't see anywhere
undisturbed enough to nest other than flat roofs. One season I could
believe none breeders in an unusual place but it has been going on too
long.

Any thoughts?

[Malcolm]

Post by Malcolm Kane

Post by Larry Stoter

Post by code_wrong
Hi,
We had an Oyster Catcher lay two eggs in the gravel behind our house .. now
two weeks later there are none ..they are gone .. no sign ofthe birds either
..the dip in the sand contains nothing but a few twigs ...
how long do these birds incubate?
Should there be eggshells left after hatching?
How long would the chicks have stayed in the nest had they hatched?
Would a fox or other egg snatcher leave some evidence if the nest was
raided?
cheeer
cw

Oystercatchers incubate for 24-27 days (Concise BWP). Generally, most
wader chicks leave the nest immediately or within 2-3 days.
Two weeks and no shells in the nest suggests the eggs have been taken.
Fox, stoat, badger are all possible ...

While on the subject of Oyster Catchers are they becoming more urban
and do they ever nest on roofs?

Yes. They started doing so in the Netherlands in the 1980s and now do so
in, e.g. Aberdeen, and probably elsewhere.

Post by Malcolm Kane
Recently (the last couple of years or so) I have seen pairs of Oyster
Catchers in at least 2 places locally which are well away from what I
would call normal habitat. One pair frequenting school playing fields
and the other grass verges near a lorry park. I can't see anywhere
undisturbed enough to nest other than flat roofs. One season I could
believe none breeders in an unusual place but it has been going on too long.

They are very adaptable and don't have to nest in the immediate vicinity
of water.

[Malcolm Kane]

Post by Malcolm
They are very adaptable and don't have to nest in the immediate
vicinity of water.

I realise that Malcolm but I would feel that they need somewhere free
from walkers dogs 30 tonne trucks etc. and the only places I can think
of near where I see them are roofs.

How far would they travel from the nest site to the areas of grass I see
them on? Also when they are doing what I would describe as display
flighting ( pairs close together calling and often in a wide circle)
have you any idea how far they might be from the nest site?

The situation intrigues me.

[Malcolm]

Post by Malcolm Kane

Post by Malcolm
They are very adaptable and don't have to nest in the immediate
vicinity of water.

I realise that Malcolm but I would feel that they need somewhere free
from walkers dogs 30 tonne trucks etc. and the only places I can think
of near where I see them are roofs.

They nest on roadside verges here when they could actually choose
shingle beaches closer to the sea. And they have to put with walkers,
dogs and trucks if not perhaps in the numbers you have.

Post by Malcolm Kane
How far would they travel from the nest site to the areas of grass I
see them on? Also when they are doing what I would describe as display
flighting ( pairs close together calling and often in a wide circle)
have you any idea how far they might be from the nest site?

They may not be nesting. Oystercatchers don't breed until they are at
least four years old, rarely three, often five. However, younger pairs
may spend time within their future breeding area mucking around with
other pairs without actually having a nesting site.

Post by Malcolm Kane
The situation intrigues me.

More observations clearly needed!