Eggs: A movable obstruction ?

Golfers breathed a little easier on the 18th hole at Loch Lomond on Wednesday after an oystercatcher's egg in a greenside bunker was deemed a movable obstruction.

The egg was removed by officials on Wednesday morning after local ornithological experts declared that it was addled and would not hatch.

It was one of three laid in the bunker by the oystercatcher, a common and colouful species in the area around the famous Scottish lake.

It was still there as golfers in the Loch Lomond event played their final practice rounds on Tuesday and none of the players struck it. Three yellow marker flags were placed around the egg to avoid it being trampled on.

The other two eggs hatched and though one chick died, the other is still at large on the course.

So is the mother, who had not attended the third egg for several days. She was seen sitting beside the 18th fairway -- perhap seeking a more suitable site for her next attempt at motherhood.

Reuters