Micklethwaite Moorhens Nest Up and Running

I was beginning to wonder if they would ever get their act together, but here they are: nest built and eggs laid.

Moorhens or at least this pair of moorhens are compulsive nest builders.  Anything goes in, straw, twigs, ice cream wrappers and bits of plastic.  And tweaking goes on continually, one or either of them is always rearranging and bringing in new building material.

As last year, they have again chosen a stone supported by an old wood piling out in the canal.  Very handy for observation - thank you very much.

Both adults take care of the eggs.  As far as I can make out they have about half hour shifts - one goes off to feed and bring back some twigs while the other sits on the eggs.  Then they swap over.

It's a bit of a climb to get in there.