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THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.
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RED LEGS
Copyright Valerie Martin 2004
In July 2004, Suzie discovered the above nest of eleven eggs on the slopes of Cissbury Ring — partridge, I immediately deduced. She was assisted, of course by Katie who was very interested in that particular bush the previous week.
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14th July 2004 Hello Valerie, Well Done Suzie Another long range diagnosis... If this nest was up or near the Ring, the chances are that it is a French Partridge (or Redleg ). And while eggs tend to not always "go by the book" - these in the photo appear to be speckled and the Grey Bird's (common partridge) eggs are usually uniform olive-buff. So you're right - it is a partridge nest. Ten to one it's a redleg...! And thanks for all the other lovely photos... Best wishes, Peter. Peter Archbold, Ashburton, South Island, New Zealand.
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Go to the top of the class, Peter. Suzie says that she knew all along what kind of partridge she had found, but wasn't telling! Unfortunately, I haven't seen "Mum" or "Dad" to inspect them. I guess that even if I do see "Mum" she won't stand still long enough for me to inspect her legs to see if they are red or not!
I had guessed later in the day that it was the nest most likely of a Red-legged Partridge and not a Grey Partridge. Thank you for your confirmation.
I understand that the male usually makes several shallow scrapes on the ground. Then Mrs Red-leg chooses one and lays the eggs. Many pairs produce a second clutch that is incubated simultaneously by Mr P.
If one batch is laid both parents tend the family. If there are two clutches each parent heads their own brood, although eventually the little separate families join up to form covoys. I think the teenagers stay with their family throughout the first winter before dispersing.
Owen says that two summer's ago when he was looking for adders, he saw Mrs Red-leg with tribe of babes in tow on the southern slopes.
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14th July 2004 Red-legged partridges These lovely birds nested with us at North End every year. We could predict their arrival each year almost to the day. We would take great pleasure in discreetly observing their comings and goings. Sadly many of their broods were lost - there was often heavy rain the day they left the nest or they fell into the pond or got caught up in netting. Any attempt to help resulted in the parent birds flying off never to return.
This picture does not do them justice. Pam Stepney, Findon Village, West Sussex.
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Not to be outdone by her sister, Katie found her own Red-legged partridge's nest early the following morning.....
This photo was taken with a flash as it was spotting with rain. |
It was only some 2 feet from yesterday's nest and was not there the day previously. So I guess this is Mrs P's way of saying to her husband —
"Here are some for you to look after, dear!"
These partridges seem to be very docile and inoffensive birds. They feed only on seeds, leaves, roots and a wide variety of plants plus beech seeds. The little chicks add some insects to their diet when they set forth into the wide open world.
In the evening I returned to the site and found a very beautiful Mrs Red-legged Partridge sitting on her clutch of eleven eggs. By the following morning her clutch of eggs had increased to twelve. There were still only three in her second nest.
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15th July 2004 Mrs P They ARE pretty birds. I have never seen the Common Partridge here. Also introduced - from Denmark as eggs - and said to be
... "very rare in the wild"... and I can agree with that! Peter Archbold, Ashburton, South Island, New Zealand.
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My nest of Red-legged partridges started to hatch on the afternoon of 16th July 2004. Dear little bundles of speckled fluff. Owen said they would all hatch overnight. I was doubtful about this but he was correct and in the morning there were just empty shells where my little family had been. They had gone walkabout. Good luck, little Red-legged partridges. Take care.
There are colonies of rabbits on the Ring and I have learned that until a few years ago there were hares on Cissbury Ring at the fenced off yew tree near the flint mine area, but no longer. I guess this is the result of all the greyhounds and lurchers being taken for walks!
I witnessed hares on the Gallops perhaps five or six years ago, but not a sign of any recently.
Continue if you would like to read about The Round-headed Rampion of Cissbury Ring.
This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.
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E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com |
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