The Hidden Mountain Pass

You continue along a path which leads through some tall evergreens, the kind commonly found this high up in the mountains. The trees grow more and more dense till you have to struggle a bit to get through. Suddenly they open up to a clearing. In the middle of that clearing was a brown egg. You woudn't have noticed it at all if it wasn't in the middle of a nest. Or at least you think it's and egg in a nest...could just be a rock on some twigs?

You move closer to get a better look. Was it making a soft ticking sound?