Mystery eggs!

[RebeccaG]

Can anyone help with the mystery of the unbroken eggs?
The back story: the other day I was sad to find a broken egg on the brick paving just outside my French Windows. It was approx two-thirds of a thin white shell which looked like it would be no bigger than 2inches in length, and must have dropped from one of the many nests in the tangle of ivy and clematis growing thickly up the side of our house. It never had a chance of surviving intact the long drop from above our tall French Windows. I kept the broken shell anyway.

Two days later, yesterday, I noticed another shell in the same place but this time it was whole! I couldn't believe it! How could it survive the 10ft (at least!) drop onto hard engineering brick! I picked it up and my instinct was to put it somewhere warm, even though the egg felt fridge cold.
Today I have found another - another whole egg! I've picked it up again, but I now feel almost as though I'm raiding someones nest! This egg was in exactly the same placed as both of the previous two - exactly the same place - what's going on? Does anyone know of a British garden bird that lays eggs on the ground? On hard ground!?

These whole eggs look pale pink but I'm sure that's because they are thin and the contents are affecting the colour.

[The Woodman]

Hi RebeccaG and welcome to WAB.

Just a thought, do you have Collared Doves nesting? These birds make the flimsiest of nests sometimes in unsuitable places and I've known eggs fall through or roll of the most basic twiggy construction.

[RebeccaG]

Hi Woodman, thanks for your prompt reply and kind welcome
Yes, we do! (I think: speaking as a complete novice!) However I've only ever seen them fluttering and flapping (apparently trying to settle on something far too flimsy, and then seemingly managing the feat!) over a completely different section of ivy covered wall ...

[astarsdad]

Hi,

They sound like dove or pigeon eggs, however those species only lay 2 eggs as a clutch.

Terry

[The Woodman]

Some birds will keep laying if eggs are removed or fall out of the nest. I don't know if doves do though.

It does sound improbable that two eggs could fall and survive landing on a hard surface!

[FUDGEY]

At 2 inces they will be Wood Pigeons I think. Probably laid them there as nest destroyed or disturbed?

[RebeccaG]

Hmm yes, so you're all saying that it's probably some sort of pigeon/dove, presumably because of the size of the eggs, and we do get plenty of these bigger birds, but it is the unlikely nature of where I keep finding them that has me stumped ...

Anymore arrivals and I'm thinking of setting up a webcam!