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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 21, 2019 15:31:44 GMT
Sorry Matt about the confusion. If it goes any further I shall begin a Starling thread just didn't want to take up a thread that goes nowhere!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 21, 2019 15:46:32 GMT
Will you be gracing us with a fabulous 2020 calendar this season Kathy?
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Post by elle on Jan 21, 2019 15:53:41 GMT
Hi Kathy It’s lovely to be back with the old disfunctional family 😂 glad to hear you’ve had visits, hope this is a good sign of things to come. I had a weird occurrence just before Xmas with about 40 bluetits all fighting over all 3 of my boxes, fluttering and fighting between them, and as quick as they came, they all disappeared!! I had 2 roosters (male) since September, but one has gone but still left with one.
Elle Xx
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 21, 2019 16:13:45 GMT
Paul That is a question and a half. You can put it to the members at a later date if you like to gauge reaction. If the aye's have it then I will consider it, is that fair enough?
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 21, 2019 16:20:07 GMT
Hi Elle Glad that you are joining us on here. Dysfunctional family this definitely is with me at the top!!! Ha Ha. Weird about that large flock of BT's. You know we all must be doing something right if so many are surviving. Are you doing the Big Garden Bird watch? Glad you have a rooster or two I always think that is a good sign you know.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 21, 2019 16:20:58 GMT
I will do that for you Kathy and that more than fair
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Post by elle on Jan 21, 2019 17:17:41 GMT
Kathy Unfortunately I won’t be taking part in the bird watch, I would if any birds would be in my garden, for some reason in winter I very rarely have any visitors, although I will have one bluetit! Good old rooster 😂
Elle Xx
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Post by YorksherLass on Jan 22, 2019 10:04:22 GMT
Hello Kathy (or should that be Miss Whiplash!) I really hope you get a starling nest this year too - as Paul says, it does sound promising. Diane
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 22, 2019 11:19:48 GMT
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 22, 2019 13:36:07 GMT
Diane/Paul No Starling visits today i'm afraid but BT couple are in and out the box like nobody's business, 6 visits this morning, surely must be the same pair? Ah Miss Whiplash remember dear old Lindi? she must be drawing her pension now
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2019 17:04:26 GMT
Brilliant Kathy! A starling visit is a good sign and very promising! Its probably a male (though they are difficult to sex). Hopefully he will start to bring in some straw, dried leaves and flowers into the box mid to late march and will sing nearby to attract females. When one is near he will enter the box to entice her in. If she is agreeable then she will take over nest building in earnest and the nest will be completed in the matter of 2 or 3 days. Don't worry if the few bits of straw does not seem to grow or if he starts to remove material whilst he tries to attract a mate. Its just his way of keeping his nesting instinct going.
BTW if he has another female somewhere nearby in another nest he will attend to the first nest that has eggs. Usually a single female will stop laying at three eggs whereby one with a mate usually lays 4 or 5.
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 22, 2019 18:13:34 GMT
Benn you are so well informed on the Starling's behaviour at breeding time thank you I shall take on board what you have said and look out in March. I do hope I get one but if not, that's the way it goes and there is always next year. We have had a lot of Starlings in our close lately searching for my fat coconuts and this is not the first year they have been visiting. I have been patient as I know it is not a natural nest site, I suppose none of our boxes are really but we are making a difference I think. Congrats on being a Mod it will suit you fine. P.S You said flowers as well what are their favourites could you tell from your nest? as that comment reminds me of Matt and his Magnolia petals!
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 23, 2019 8:33:22 GMT
Just when I thought roosting had finished the two turn up again. This is a first for me having two BT's in my boxes at the same time!Perhaps they knew we would wake up to a hard frost this morning.
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Post by YorksherLass on Jan 23, 2019 10:08:02 GMT
That's great Kathy dance & I hope they carry on doing that. No signs yet here of any blue tits or great tits going anywhere near our one & only box- they just fly across the garden.
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 23, 2019 14:17:16 GMT
Oh Diane it's been a hectic morning my BT pair have been in and out again to box 1 (left hand side of picture)so many times I feel awful telling you all about it. The female has spent 3 or so mins taking poop out and has even done two half nesting wriggles. I don't know if it's the rooster clearing up after herself or this is another bird. I don't know either who owns the box.! It's freezing here what on earth are they thinking? All I can say is that it must be the nights drawing out and the sap rising. God help me if we get a warm day. I thought my friends eggs that turned up early last year was a mirage but probably she was right! So disappointing for you at the moment but as we say every year IT'S STILL EARLY DAYS!!!
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Post by sammi on Jan 23, 2019 17:32:27 GMT
Wow things are hotting up early in your parts Kathy. As usual down here Cornish birds do it Drekkly I.e. In their own good time
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 23, 2019 19:07:41 GMT
Certainly is hotting up Sammi but a few weeks away yet but I like the tension really if I'm honest. I like Drekkly never heard of that one. Hubby is from Devon but he doesn't use it so not native there then? It will all kick off for you down there soon until then I am turning up the heating (-3 tonight) as I am Nesh as we say here!!!!
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 25, 2019 14:05:55 GMT
BT pair in and out all morning again the box floor is almost empty of droppings compared to the picture above far left; another couple of days and it will be like a bright new pin. I'm afraid to say there has been wriggles this morning. It's nice to see but it worries me
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 26, 2019 13:14:43 GMT
Hi All Just a little film to show how progress is being made in the nest box. She has been busy all morning cleaning up and floor is almost clear except for residual stains! I cannot work out how to edit the film so she is not leaving the box to remove a great distance, just dropping the poo out of the hole?
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 26, 2019 14:04:54 GMT
She's done a great job cleaning there Kathy!
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Post by karenupnorth on Jan 26, 2019 18:20:32 GMT
A womens work is never done! Looking good!
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Post by YorksherLass on Jan 27, 2019 12:10:40 GMT
Great to watch her cleaning up Kathy, shame it's always the females who do it though, not like here where my husband cooks every meal since he retired as he loves it. Trouble is, I've forgotten how to do it now! Diane
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 28, 2019 9:25:40 GMT
Hi Diane No visits at all yesterday cold and windy hurricane force! The box is as clean as I think it can be now and female came in last night to roost but went straight out again. Think now that she was just checking to make sure it wasn't occupied! With regard to cooking, mine likes to dabble and after so many years at the stove I'm happy for him to do it, it's just that he uses 3 pans when two would do. Karen, you are quite correct I don't think women ever retire!!!!!
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Post by YorksherLass on Jan 28, 2019 10:14:26 GMT
Sorry you had no visits yesterday Kathy, I thought I was unlucky enough to see just two wood pigeons. I listened to Chris Packham this morning on Radio 2, he didn't have all that much luck either!
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 28, 2019 11:06:08 GMT
I had my usual crowd turn up for the bird watch but no Greenfinches or Siskins as of last year a real shame. RSPB say they want you to record no birds visitors as it is just as important. My little female has been in the box this morning with her partner and she is doing wriggles would you believe it, its freezing cold here with an icy wind chill. Don't despair about you lack of birds they will come when the time is right. Remind me where and in which direction your box faces please.
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