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Post by WildlifePaul on Jun 5, 2020 15:29:43 GMT
Lovely videos GBH! I am glad you've had a successful year, Bet you are sad to see them go?
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jun 6, 2020 7:00:25 GMT
I'm am sad but happy too. Great seeing them in the garden being 'real' birds. Yesterday evening I kept going out to look in the box....not sure what exactly it was I was hoping to see? But it was all silent. If I'd missed seeing them leaving, I would have had to wait yet another year to experience that. So glad I got to see it through right to the very end. Proper closure on this years nest. And that's that!
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Post by sammi on Jun 6, 2020 8:00:47 GMT
So pleased for you GBH. Glad they fledged safely and that you saw it too. I'm still a getting empty nest syndrome symptoms 😢🤣
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Post by Taz on Jun 6, 2020 9:34:18 GMT
P.s just noticed....going by their black 'cap' colourings....it looks like there is one male with jet black cap, and two females with lighter dark grey caps. That's great, I must admit I noticed the difference in our adults, I thought I could see that too in the youngsters, but hubby just thought it was to do with them being in the shade.
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Post by Taz on Jun 6, 2020 9:43:19 GMT
So pleased you got to see them fledge, that would have been so unfair if you had missed it. Lovely video and of them going to the hedge 🍻
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jun 6, 2020 14:26:01 GMT
Hi all, Well, coming down off my high from yesterday - the three have been seen all around the garden today, so still doing well. yahoo_clap So...not letting the grass grow, so to speak, I'm getting organised for next season already - not taking any chances this time with my outdated Aldi camera set up and now that the box has proven its worth, its earned itself a new camera. With all that great technology out there, the days of camping out in ones shed, camera in hand, is not really something I want to do again next year!!! As the shed is right down the back of the garden and I cannot have cables running across the garden as we have future plans for a pond and veg patches etc, my solution for this is to get the 1080p WiFi Birdbox camera with an internal micro SD card for recording capabilities. I had mentioned this one before here a few months back - but they were out of stock EVERYWHERE!!! I went online today to see if they were back in stock - the they were! plus, there is 10% discount now on everything using code: SC10 plus free delivery (for UK customers). Not sure how long this code lasts, but every little helps, right? Anyway, here is the camera I bought: www.spycameracctv.com/spycamera/green-feathers-wifi-bird-box-camera-hd-night-visionFor our Irish forum members: Helen & Brian, and anyone else looking in - I discovered a great 'work around' for companies like this that don't deliver to Ireland, but do offer free delivery to UK customers. - use a virtual UK address with a company such as Parcel Connect or Parcel Motel to get it sent to an address up the north, and then they transport down to your nearest collection point in your town. This way you only pay a flat fee of just €4.50! You can look them up here: www.parcelconnect.ie/virtual-address/parcelmotel.comI wonder would this work for the live meal worm websites also???? Definitely something to note for next year.
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Post by karenupnorth on Jun 6, 2020 16:06:21 GMT
Congrats on your new camera really look forward to seeing it in action, next season will be here before we know it! I know what you mean about wires, we put ours along the fence using cable ties and then run into the bedroom through the window frame they go quite unnoticed but I would prefer wireless, but our wifi isnt great and the box is aways from the house so dont think it would be good. My changes that I am going to do is remove two of my boxes that are old and over time have proved not to be in a good position and replace them with two new boxes that I got from cj wildlife and put them in a better positon, east facing like the tree box. Once all done I ill put pics up but wont be until back end.
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jun 6, 2020 17:24:59 GMT
That's sounds great Karen. Like you say, the season doesn't be long coming around again! Yes, I'm thinking of changing the location of my sideview box too for September. It is facing North but I feel possibly in too cold a corner. I could count on my hand the amount of visits it got compared to the east facing top view box. Virtually zero interest. Just on the bad Wi-Fi....investing in a Wi-Fi extender can often just be the solution to boost the signal to the area where the signal is weak. One like this for example: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00NIUHAG6/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jun 6, 2020 18:01:07 GMT
Them wifi boosters are brilliant, My laptop up in the loft rooms was pretty crap before I plugged one of these in up there full speed internet now.
With the wifi camera make sure its got a good wifi connection GBH, Or it will be patchy and go on and off if wifi signal drops etc that is the only downfall. If you manage to get the wifi perfect though you shouldn't have a problem them wifi boosters should do the trick for that.
Good luck with it and let us know how it gets on over Autumn! Like you I am already planning my changes that i'll be doing during late summer.
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hardy
Senior Member
Posts: 166
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Post by hardy on Jun 6, 2020 20:05:10 GMT
For our Irish forum members: Helen & Brian, and anyone else looking in - I discovered a great 'work around' for companies like this that don't deliver to Ireland, but do offer free delivery to UK customers. - use a virtual UK address with a company such as Parcel Connect or Parcel Motel to get it sent to an address up the north, and then they transport down to your nearest collection point in your town. This way you only pay a flat fee of just €4.50! You can look them up here: www.parcelconnect.ie/virtual-address/parcelmotel.com I wonder would this work for the live meal worm websites also???? Definitely something to note for next year. Thanks for that GBH. Will keep it in mind if I have to purchase a new camera.
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jun 10, 2020 7:54:05 GMT
Hi all... Well, I got my Trail camera yesterday....looks the business and has all the bells and whistles. Set it up in the corner of the garden near the ditch where there is the most 'traffic' passing through, excitedly went out this morning view any video or picture captures - absolutely nothing? I had my dome camera set up at a different angle, so I absolutely know a cat passed through where the trail camera was, yet the trail camera didn't trigger? Thought I had it set up correctly - so now I'm puzzled. I bet its something simple - it always is. I'll try again tonight. Hate that though - why do these devices always lead us on a merry dance before they finally cooperate.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jun 10, 2020 10:04:37 GMT
What kind of trail camera did you get GBH? My victure one was just as simple as turning it on and it was ready to go, Have a play about with the settings or do little research about the model on youtube. They usually have few videos knocking about on setting it up etc!
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Post by Ann70 on Jun 10, 2020 11:38:03 GMT
Like Paul says it will be a minor gremlin, but all the same you came away with no action, test it out in the house where there is movement then you will know its up and running ready for tonight Good luck
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jun 13, 2020 18:04:42 GMT
Hi all, Worked out the issues with the camera (Paul, I got a Toguard H85) ...I had the sensitivity it set too low on it... So once that was fixed, I got some great footage of several cats...the quality of the images are great on it so I'm delighted about that...but with all my messing with the settings the 8 x batteries were used up in 2 days!!!! Good grief...that is not ideal. So I've now ordered a 6v 2A DC power supply. That's the end of me using batteries. That's arriving on Tuesday...so I'm just using my other dome camera until then. Foxy and Hedgy are still visiting though. Today we got around to putting the Oak tree down in the ground. The joy it has brought me. I keep going out to look at it. Can't wait to see bird sitting in the branches. Its a young tree and will take years to establish, but to give you an idea of the size, the hedge behind it is 7ft high.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jun 14, 2020 13:17:13 GMT
Little battery eater! I only have update my 8 batteries every 4 to 6 months depending how often I put it out. I don't have it out everynight just here and there! Oak tree is AMAZING! such a great size aswell!! No wonder you are chuffed, how much did you pay for it that size if you dont mind me asking? I'd really love an oak in the garden, But anything of a decent size is crazy moment. I do spend alot on my wildlife but hundreds on a tree I can't bring myself to do I was thinking of just growing some myself but I could literally be dead the time it gets big enough Was hoping to skip the years and get a mature sized one
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jun 15, 2020 20:03:24 GMT
Hi Paul...that tree was €90.00....in sterling that's approx £80.00.
So, I felt it wasn't too bad at all....its an investment - considering how slow growing they are, and so you get instant gratification with a tree that size...I will have to mind it well, until it establishes.
I also plan to collect up a few acorns from our local mature trees and see if I can try my hand at growing a few saplings....in the awful event that this tree fails - which can sometimes happen!
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jun 16, 2020 17:02:29 GMT
So...a bit of an update...I must have made a mistake about the batteries being used up in the new wildlife camera...I was out looking at them just now and the screen indicator says they are at 75%?
I must have read it wrong the other day and somehow thought they were used up?? That makes a bit more sense!!! I was thinking that was a bit much after only using it for 2 days!
I was thinking about getting in touch with the manufacturers about it and everything! But now I don't have to...thats is good news!!
Now...I have received the new birdbox WiFi camera for use in my Aldi box. I'm about to go and switch out the cameras.
So just looking for some advice...The Great Tits nest is still in there...should I clean it out at this stage or leave it in there until August/ September??? Is there any reason why I shouldn't remove all the unused nests now?
I know some people here have recently got roosters... were your boxes cleaned out before they arrived or are the old nests still in there?
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Post by sammi on Jun 16, 2020 19:29:53 GMT
Aahhh glad the battery issue was solved. I've got a Bushnell trail cam and don't need to replace batteries for months!! Good luck with the new camera. I'm not sure about great tit nests so will leave that to those who know. Love that tree❤
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jun 20, 2020 13:25:38 GMT
By GBH signing off for the season now, glad all is okay at yours cannot grumble about our nests this year, some casualties but overall can't complain. Stay safe and have a good summer.
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jun 21, 2020 14:14:22 GMT
Hi all.. Cleaned out my boxes and new wi-fi camera is installed in the Aldi box and working away. I'm all set for the coming Autumn. (For some reason the images are not translating clear or in focus from the post image.org pictures....but in real life they are crystal clear.) Top view box: Aldi box with new Wi-Fi camera: Also...even though it had a successful season, I may have to take down the old Aldi box and put up a new box. The roof in the Aldi box is not high enough to accommodate the Wi-Fi aerial which needs to be facing directly upwards. At the moment the aerial cramped in there and lying sideways, and as a result I'm getting interference with the sound... So, I'll need to have a think about that over the next few weeks. I may continue to use the resin side windows instead of the led light set up...just to mimic what was there before. There is plenty of light without the LEDs as you can see. Very happy that the Aldi box finally got a chance to have a nest though, and now I can put it into retirement. So...that's that I think ....I think everyone is finishing up here??? If so, I guess I'll wish everyone all the best for now..Thanks for a great season and all the chats...have a lovely Summer.
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Post by Beechnut on Jun 22, 2020 15:54:28 GMT
Best of Luck to you GBH, hope you get your boxes and cameras all sorted for next year.
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Post by Taz on Jun 23, 2020 11:04:59 GMT
Have a great summer GBH, see you next year
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Post by Ann70 on Jun 23, 2020 13:47:24 GMT
GBH enjoy the summer, stay well. see you back in the new season Ann
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Jun 26, 2020 8:06:11 GMT
Hi folks, just popping in quickly to say my homemade House Martin boxes were a complete flop!! Literally!
Woke to find both mud cups in a mess on the ground...doh!!! All this 'soft' weather had obviously loosened the mud. Oh well!!!
It was worth a try,...ha,ha!
Last night the sky was teaming with Swifts, House Martins and Swallows....it was really amazing to watch...I don't think I'd ever seen so many in my life.
The hot, close, pre-thunderstorm weather had them all out catching all the air bore creatures.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jun 26, 2020 11:06:55 GMT
Shame about your house martin boxes GBH, Maybe make the nest lot out of stone? or buy them per made if you want be lazy and bother making more (literally me! hahaha )
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