From Mereworth Woodlands

21st April 2011

The woodland Easter egg hunt begins

I nearly stepped on this camouflaged hen pheasant this morning as she lay roosting in the uncharacteristically warm Easter sunshine. She lay remarkably unprotected in this open spot of coppice woodland, close to the hubbub of the charcoal retorts. It is common for hens to share nests, nurturing the eggs fertilized by the same male cock pheasant between them. There are currently nine delicate blue tinged eggs and providing the resident buzzard and goshawk don't spot them, I wouldn't be surprised for that number to double over the Easter period. Watch this space! More news on our new resident pheasant family coming soon.