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Post by blueeyedchick on May 4, 2019 14:04:59 GMT
Haha, he obviously doesn’t think there’s enough room for him to give his best performance . Typical man then Glad you have eggs Benn hope all progresses nicely and that the 'House Martins' are back, as long as they don't start singing we shall be okay!
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2019 20:56:52 GMT
Cheers Kathy, yes the first House Martins arrived on the 24th April. More turn up every day. Just waiting to spot the first Swift so I can start my speaker attraction scores.
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Post by elle on May 4, 2019 21:48:43 GMT
Love house martins & swifts Benn, they haven’t reached my area yet, here in East Yorkshire cant wait to hear about your speaker attraction Elle xx
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2019 17:38:47 GMT
None here yet Elle. Box doors open and ready. I am just waiting to read that Swifts have arrived on the Bury & Bolton Swift Facebook page before I start my recorded Swift calls through the outside speakers. I tried them out for a couple of days last week to see if I got any complaints from neighbours but I think modern day double glazing takes care of that.
Meanwhile Mrs Blue tit is up to 5 eggs and everything seems fine:
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Post by Ann70 on May 5, 2019 17:42:52 GMT
lovely neat nest, good all is going well for you benn
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2019 11:56:08 GMT
Mrs Blue tit started incubating today on 6 eggs. Smaller clutch than usual.
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Post by blueeyedchick on May 6, 2019 12:38:24 GMT
That's good news Benn love to have a Swift or House Martin nest on here if you can get one! 6 eggs average clutch my sister's 10 mins walk from me has 6/7 most years, this time 7 at last count. What annoys me is that she won't buy mealies simply because one year the bird wouldn't take them -uhhhhh then she wonders why some don't make it! Thanks for your comment on my thread I'm pleased to say that Andi is still alive and kicking so think it was just protection of the eggs. nice though. icon_biggrin
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Post by suep on May 6, 2019 14:20:19 GMT
Great news Benn, a very manageable clutch. Sue
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Post by hfriel on May 7, 2019 9:13:54 GMT
Nice size Benn especially later in the season....Best of luck for a success incubation
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Post by elle on May 7, 2019 15:16:10 GMT
I also have a smaller clutch this year Benn, very strange! I think weather has a lot to answer for Elle xx
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 7, 2019 16:53:36 GMT
That is a nice number for her Benn. Awaiting the return of the swifts now
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Post by sammi on May 8, 2019 20:43:32 GMT
Hope they all do well Benn. Must be an easier task with a smallish clutch. I think May started incubating 8 eggs on Monday /Tuesday so we are on the same time line.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 20:51:13 GMT
Thanks Sammi, she settled on 7 eggs. Hope yours goes smoothly too.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 9:44:55 GMT
Sadly Mrs Blue tit has disappeared. I was sat in the garden after mowing the lawn yesterday and this morning I thought to myself I did not see or hear either of the Blue tits. I checked the live feed on my iphone and grew worried after 10 mins when all I could see is the eggs. I checked the recordings on the DVR and yesterday at 7:17 she was happily sitting and arranging the nest around her then she exited and has not been back since. Here is the clip of that moment:
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Post by Beechnut on May 21, 2019 9:56:10 GMT
Sorry to hear that Benn - 2019 will go down as a really bad year for many on here.
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 21, 2019 10:00:37 GMT
Benn That is really sad, I am sorry Do you think she was killed yesterday morning? 2019 as been an awful year, I really have never had such a drama packed season in my life. I think many of us will be glad to put this one behind us
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 10:02:50 GMT
Not to worry Paul/Beechnut, there will be other years. I tend not to get attached to the nesting birds as much as others. I take the view of Chris Packham. I am positive she was predated by the Sparrowhawk. We have seen evidence of stripped birds around our front of late,
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 21, 2019 10:11:19 GMT
What a way to come to your end Poor little bird, I can't help but get attached sadly! Any sign of the swifts for you yet Benn? I haven't heard or seen any in our road yet, I know we have atleast 2 nests in the road aswell.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 10:36:16 GMT
I have been playing the calls for two weeks now Paul but have not seen a single bird. I thought I saw a few in the distance yesterday but they were so far away so could have been House Martins. I have been talking to a guy who runs Bolton and Bury Swift facebook group and he reckons the second wave of arrivals is due end of May/early June and it is these Juveniles looking for future nest sites that usually take up new boxes as mature birds are very loyal to their existing sites. I was hoping to get the birds that nested in the nearby factory that was demolished, but sadly they do not seem to have reappeared yet. There are quite a few Swifts 3 and 5 mile away but none near me!!
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Post by blueeyedchick on May 21, 2019 10:46:08 GMT
Yes, Benn there is always next year, how many times have we all said that!!!!!!!
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Post by suep on May 21, 2019 16:21:25 GMT
So sorry to hear that your female has gone missing Benn. Wish I could have your attitude but i’m afraid I get very attached to them - big softy, that’s me. Sue
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Post by elle on May 21, 2019 22:15:14 GMT
Sorry to hear your news Benn, it looked like she’d been really startled by something, as Sue said, I wish I could have your attitude, but unfortunately I haven’t,!! I shall have to try harder next year (to not get attached!)
Elle Xx
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Post by sammi on May 22, 2019 21:40:53 GMT
Hi Benn on the subject of swifts. We saw some high overhead yesterday. Hopefully you'll get some takers.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 23, 2019 13:31:05 GMT
Well Benn, I almost wish I hadn't checked back in again after seeing your lovely video, then reading about Mrs. Blue Tit not coming back. I'm like a few others on here & although I have no live cameras. I still get attached to my little birds too & I was hoping that my Mr. GT Merlin had managed to raise his chicks OK & all fledge - found out different 30 minutes ago. Anyway, here's hoping that you have success with your swift boxes - maybe the factory ones are just a little late coming this year!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2019 18:16:33 GMT
Some better news. In March we added five more nest boxes to the three we erected 2 years ago in a young Moorland wood planted in 2000. This is 1 .5 miles up the road from where we live. We went on a walk in this afternoon's bright sunshine and thought we would try to ascertain if any were being used. We took a picture first by sticking the corner of an iphone into the entrance hole and checking this for any sign of birds inside so as not to disturb them by lifting the lid. The first had a nest and one egg. Not sure if this has been abandoned or if its the first egg laid. (see photo 1.) The second had a number of mature Great Tit chicks. (photo 2) The third was occupied by a pair of Blue tits who were not happy to see us. So we left it. The fourth had a partially built nest. We heard some Coal tits nearby so fingers crossed (photo 3) The fifth was unoccupied. The sixth had a sitting Great Tit (photo 4 quite a dark picture but you can just make the sitting female out.) Number 7 was unoccupied but had signs of a rooster. Number 8 had a sitting great tit who we saw on the camera and who hissed at the disturbance so we backed away without a photo. So 6 out of 8 ain't bad with signs of use in one and one uninhabited box. We are going to mount another 4 boxes in the Autumn as they are only about £5 each with the 28mm plates.
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