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Oh My Goodness......Conratulations P & P, what wonderful news and aren't they just the most adorable little bundles of fluff, they are just so cute. I really hope those Magpies do stay away but I am sure P & P will be very protective of them.
Those photos are just beautiful Lai and my face has a huge on it, just fantastic to see and look forward to more updates and piccies when you can.

littlewid-x-

Thanks Littlewid. Persephone is being a real star, Pip is nowhere to be seen .... I will take my camera tomorrow, today I just enjoyed watching them.

Lai

I wonder if thats what male Partridges do Lai, I don't know much about the raising of little Partridge chicks whether it's down to both parents or just the mum or whether the female Partidge keeps the male away, I will have to try and find out.
Anyway, Persephone is doing a grand job but if she is on her own with them it must be hard.
It will be lovely to see more pics but no pressure as I know sometimes it's just nice to look and enjoy.

littlewid-x-

Brilliant Lai, how fantastic. Just showed Mrs S, and she says they are georgus, how great to be able to see them as they grow up. Fingers x they stay safe, but thats a lot of chicks to bring through
WS

Lai, check this link out and it will give you the information on raising the chicks, it's quite interesting and I am sure Pip must be around somewhere.

http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/red-legged_partridge.htm

littlewid-x-

Thanks for that Littlewid, interesting little birds

Def 8 after another head count, but one is very tiny and stays under Persephone's wing all the time, I worry this one may be easy pickings but will do my lunchtime check although we have a wedding today so am anxious to keep the guests away from the little p's nursery

Lai

I'll have to take my binos with me Doogs, they are soooooooooooooooooooo tiny. Waiting for the wedding guests to move and then I can go and check on them all.

Lai

Persephone keeping all 7 or 8 safe underneath her this afternoon





If you look closely you can see Martha Mallard - she is sitting on a large number of eggs. I saw them yesterday when she flew off briefly. She is so well camouflaged and this is her second lot of eggs. First lot all left successfully and returned to the stream.



Just caught this little Pied Wagtail as I was walking back with the dogs.



Lai

Glad all the little ones are safe Lai,Mums doing a really good job. Martha's really well hidden in there, took me a bit to work out where she was. Lovely shot of the Pied Wagtail.
WS

Update - Persephone and her 7 or 8 have left and gone to the woods, definitely a good move and I hope I can catch up with them again. I had a good look around yesterday morning but sign of them

Martha is still sitting ......

Lai

Fingers X Lai she knows what she doing, and they are all safe. It would be great to see how they go on.
WS

Wonderful pictures of persephone keeping her chicks safe and hopefully she and all her chicks will be safe in the woods. Have you een Pip Lai? I am hoping he is around and helping out or maybe he is looking after another brood of chicks as it says in the link can happen. Fingers X you will see Persephone and her chicks again.

Cor Martha is hiding out isn't she, took a little bit of looking to see her in there but then again, very sensible mum to be hidden, wonder how many chicks she will have.......it's all very exciting in your garden.

Lovely little Pied wagtail, he's a dinky little thing isn't he.

Thanks for all the updates Lai

littlewid-x-

News from first thing this morning.

Phoebe pheasant feeding in the garden is joined by one single red legged partridge - is this Pip or Ptolemy? I really hope it isn't Persephone because there were no tiny weeny p's.

I will be keeping a close eye on whoever it is - I just wish I could tell the difference between male and female!

Lai

Just had a check around on the web, and some books I have, but unfortunatly there's no way of telling the difference. Just have to keep our fingers X
WS

I know WS - it's all

Lai

OH My, I have only just seen this Lai and I so hope it ws Pip and not Persephone otherwise where are the chicks Lets hope it was Pip back from his wanders and Persephone was hiding out somewhere. It would be awful if anything had happened to the little P's. Lets hope when you get back from London you have some good news for us about them all and also about Martha.....is she now a mum

littlewid-x-

Good news - Martha and her 8 little ducklings left over the weekend and headed down to the river .....

Pip or Ptolemy or Persephone is in our garden, and I have no idea who it is but they are solo

Lai

Great to hear that Matha and her 8 ducklings are ok just wished we knew who was in your garden and if the little P's are ok, hopefully they are alright. As we have no bad news about them I am going to believe they are all doing fine

littlewid-x-

Great news for lets hope they all stay safe, and Mrs P is keeping the little ones under wraps somewhere safe, and sound
WS

Doogs, I think Persephone is in the woods with her little ones, they wouldn't be able to access the back garden where we have the feeders as it is enclosed by a high wall and they can't fly yet. So I'm thinking the solo partridge is Pip or Ptolemy. He's around this morning along with Phoebe pheasant - I don't think that would be a good match

No sightings of Martha this morning but keeping the dogs well clear of the river for a while

Lai