Nest found on Saturday 16 Feb 2019 with only two eggs, each slightly cracked (pics 1 and 2). Suspecting Namaqua Sandgrouse, I searched briefly, though in vain, for a chick from a possible third egg. I did not touch the eggs and left within two minutes.

Thinking that egg-laying in the heat of February in a Winter rainfall area might be unusual (notwithstanding their ability to bring water to chicks), I returned the following day, hoping to confirm the ID. I approached the nest in such a way that a bird at the nest site would only see me when I was within about 10 m.

Upon approach, a Sandgrouse with the typical ‘Kelkiewyn’ call landed about 15-20 m from the nest site. I suspected it had seen me coming from some vantage point (maybe flying) and was a decoy. Apparently confirming this, another soon flew off from the nest site, also giving the ‘Kelkiewyn’ call. Too fast to capture on camera.

Two chicks were found (pic 3) half a metre away from the empty nest (pic 4). Again, I did not see a third chick. To minimize disruption, I again left within two minutes.

I note egg-laying has been recorded for this species in February [Sinclair et al., (2011) SASOL Birds of Southern Africa, 4th ed., Struik Nature]. But how common is this?

Just for interest, assuming an incubation period of 22 days, my records showed the temperature varied from 12 to 41 C, average 24 C. The last rain was 4.5 mm two weeks before egg laying.