Evidence of hatch

Can you review this photo and let me know if you see any evidence that this nest might hatch four days early? Click-to-enlarge if you need to.

As we rapidly approach the first hatches of the 2026 season in Barnegat Light, it’s important to take a close peek at the eggs. It’s useful to know what to expect. Sometimes the eggs at the nest will give very subtle clues that they are close to hatching, including tiny cracks called starring and tiny holes called pips.

Even though this oystercatcher nest isn’t expected to hatch until Sunday, so it is still a little early, we should check it out now, just in case, so we can be prepared.

LMK if you see any evidence of hatching. Because if it were to hatch, that would really be something to celebrate. They would be our first beach nesting babies of 2026!

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