9 Mar 23

2023, breeding
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A day of exchanges, food offerings, egg keeping. I saw them mate this morning and witnessed a food pass late afternoon. Azina refused the pigeon offered when on the ledge but accepted it in the air and went to eat it on the roof of Muscal House (that block of flats she’s taken a shine to).
I am expecting the third egg sometime in the night: around 4:30 if she keeps to the same schedule as the second egg (60 hours) or before (last year it took 57 hours so it could be as early at 1:30). Time will tell. She is currently in the box, on the eggs, after her dinner, which took about an hour.

8 Mar 23

2023, breeding
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With such a wet and cold day (and night) Tom and Azina have covered the eggs pretty much non stop. Tom came in at 4am for a first shift of nearly 3 1/2 hours! (I guess he wanted to shelter from the rain/snow 😉 )

Check the first two shots of Tom and Azina side by side at the entrance of the nest box. I don’t often to get to have them so close and cooperating to give such good comparative shots. Tom’s legs, cere and eye rings are orange whereas Azina’s are yellow. His chest is white and lightly speckled, hers looks darker with her big dark spots. His back is slate grey, hers is blacker.

8 Mar 23 — The two eggs in colour

2023, breeding
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The two eggs in glorious colour a few minutes ago. The first egg is on the right and the second one on the left.

Azina and the two eggs

7 Mar 23 — The two eggs revealed

2023, breeding
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The two eggs finally revealed at 6.05 pm when Tom brought Azina her dinner. Tom then covered them again until her return 14 minutes later.

The two eggs revealed
The two eggs revealed

7 Mar 23 — Azina lays the second egg

2023, breeding
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The second egg laying video. Azina got up from the egg at 4.35, got into position at 4.38, pushes at 4.40/4.41 and at 4.42 she lifts up to let the egg to dry off. At 4.46 she turns a bit and starts settling down.

This makes it 60 hours and 10 minutes between the first two eggs.