The Perils of Nesting Ringed Plovers

Nesting Ringed Plovers get a rough time on the peninsular. A small number of pairs still attempt to nest on the shingle at the point and in the desert areas but visitors and especially those with dogs on and off-lead cause significant levels of disturbance and can destroy nests, despite the best efforts of the estate wardens to protect the nesting birds. Foxes, badgers and the increasingly large numbers of corvids in the area also take their toll. Sometimes it is not until a second or even third nesting attempt that a small number of chicks might successfully fledge. So, it was great to be able to monitor three nesting pairs of Ringed Plovers at ARC from Hanson Hide. 

However, today a tragedy unfolded and one that was not totally unexpected.

In ten minutes she will have her nest trampled and lose an egg and chick

Sounding the alarm

Her partner arrives and the Egyptian Geese move on having narrowly missed the nest

The Egyptian Geese return not giving the Ringed Plover any peace

The adult goose narrowly misses the nest again amidst a frantic defence

The geese wander away and then return yet again, this time the Ringed Plovers don't stand a chance

The moment of destruction

Once the geese had wandered away, I watched the female return to the nest and she immediately picked up a smashed egg within which a fairly well developed chick was still attached to the egg casing. She flew off with the smashed egg and dropped it away from the nest. On returning she settled on the remaining eggs, I wonder if she will still be sitting tomorrow?