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Post by matt on Dec 31, 2020 13:06:06 GMT
Yeah, definitely up for a bit of sparrow action Paul! Heard quite a bit of bird activity inside the house this morning, almost certainly inside the hole near the first starling box. I have now blocked it (just with a bit of wood), so I am really hoping there aren't any birds trapped inside! It's sunny and calm now, so I would expect them to be out and about tbh, let's hope so (that would be awful!). I suppose I would hear some scrabbling from inside if they were, though.. Fingers crossed - I'm feeling good about this box, in particular. This morning alone it has had about 10 inspections; a few times from a starling, once from a bluetit and about 5 times from one/more sparrows!
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Post by Ann70 on Dec 31, 2020 13:54:52 GMT
Matt Happy new year to you and your family, we all need one for sure Looks like you are going to have a busy one with your boxes, I'm happy that its starting to happen finally Matt Watch out Paul, Matt is creeping up on you
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Post by matt on Dec 31, 2020 14:25:02 GMT
Thanks Anne, same to you and yours!
I think if it doesn't happen for me this season I will probably just give up! Fingers crossed though, as always, and I've definitely got quite a few more options this year compared to last.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Dec 31, 2020 15:41:38 GMT
Nothing should be inside during the day matt, You should be safe! I am glad its getting so much attention!! Ann, That is okay, I want Matt to get as many nests as he possibly can! He truly deserves it! I love this forum during Spring, We all get eachother because half the time people think I am batshit crazy everything I do regarding birds / wildlife and what I spend on them. So its nice to have our own little bubble of people on here who get it!
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Post by Ann70 on Dec 31, 2020 16:42:21 GMT
Very pleased for Matt, so may it continue into lots of successful nests in the spring. It will be good to see people back on the forum with their news,
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Post by sammi on Jan 1, 2021 17:04:06 GMT
Happy New Year Matt. I'm so pleased and excited to see all the interest in your boxes. All your hard work deserves loads of nests and masses of little fledglings strarting life in 2021.
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Post by matt on Jan 3, 2021 9:29:23 GMT
Thanks Sammi, same to you! No visits for a while to that bluetit box, but then this morning a bird popped in very quickly, picked up the poo, and left again! I assume this must be a female, but perhaps not the original culprit? Just a low res video still from iSpy:
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 3, 2021 11:04:50 GMT
Promising that she took the poo out Matt, She must have her eye on the box! I am not getting huge amount of visits at the moment to be honest, But it is freezing cold so I don't blame them! Only box getting daily visits (that I am seeing) is the Tree box female seems to come in between 9am / 10am every morning and that is normally it few morning visits and a few visits to the entrance hole early afternoon (guessing the male)
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Post by matt on Jan 3, 2021 11:51:45 GMT
Was thinking the same Paul, that she must have some feeling of ownership towards it.. Not getting many bluetit visits but still loads to the starling box - at least 10 every morning, but still just looking in (nothing has gone right in yet..). At least two different starlings as well, since one has a very bright yellow beak and one has a dark beak - apparently the beaks change colour over winter? No return from the sparrows after that flurry of visits over one day.. Should all start hotting up fairly soon though
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Post by karenupnorth on Jan 3, 2021 20:17:52 GMT
Excellent news Matt, and your right it will soon start getting serious. I too have a poo cleaner that is visiting daily so I hope its a good sign of things to come.
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Post by matt on Jan 6, 2021 10:26:45 GMT
Not much to report really, but visits continue. Just checking in, really!
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Post by Ann70 on Jan 6, 2021 10:35:09 GMT
Good news matt that you are having regular visits , we all need something positive to focus on,
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Post by matt on Jan 15, 2021 10:45:22 GMT
The starling(s) continue to visit daily, often quite a few times, but nothing has gone inside one of the starling boxes yet (bluetits and sparrows have also popped their heads in). This morning was the closest yet to a starling going right in - I really thought it was going to happen for a minute, but it looked like it was struggling to squeeze through! Video below, what do you reckon? I think it is a 45mm hole, so should be big enough according to the guidelines. Let's hope so!!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 15, 2021 12:06:30 GMT
Oh almost in Matt! The 45mm hole should be fine for it, Might just look like its a struggle because its wary to fully enter yet. Or you have a fat starling I have my fingers crossed for you this year, I think the cold weather at moment will probably limit visits so lets hope it warms up a little soon!
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Post by sammi on Jan 15, 2021 14:27:40 GMT
Wonderful sight. He/she seemed really interested Everything crossed for you Matt
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Post by matt on Jan 15, 2021 14:35:23 GMT
They've been having a good look, that's for sure Sammi! Just waiting for one to take the plunge and go right inside. I read something today saying starlings like holes that were only just big enough (help keep other predators out), so so long as it can get in, hopefully it will like it! Fingers crossed.
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Post by YorksherLass on Jan 15, 2021 15:55:45 GMT
Matt - a great video to be sure & he's certainly looking very interested, he takes the plunge eventually & decides it's definitely going to be home!
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Post by Ann70 on Jan 16, 2021 14:08:53 GMT
Im pleased to see this is happening for you Matt, such an exciting season is awaiting you and the birds
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Post by matt on Jan 25, 2021 14:57:42 GMT
Just checking in! Visits continue, with lots this morning after a quiet spell with the cold/wind/rain (more coming soon, apparently!). I got a nice snap of a bluetit in the conrete-fronted sideview this morning. I was watching the box from the outside at the time, and there was a pair of them together. Not sure whether this is the male or female, but only had one inside at a time so far. Also visits from sparrows, bluetits and starlings to the two larger boxes this morning, but nothing has yet ventured right inside. Bluetits also popped inside both the 3-hole concrete ones as well. It is hotting up a bit!
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Post by Ann70 on Jan 25, 2021 15:24:48 GMT
HI Matt good to hear your news on all the activity, hope it gets even better for you very soon.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 25, 2021 16:31:48 GMT
What a gorgeous picture Matt, Quality is STUNNING! I have everything crossed for you, Its looking good for that side box though! Its been getting visits for a while now hasn't it?
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Post by matt on Jan 25, 2021 16:57:21 GMT
They've all been getting visits, Paul. Today 5 out of 6 boxes got at least a couple of visits, and all of those 5 got visits from a bluetit! Good chance that is the same pair, of course, but then you get multiple bluetit nests in one garden? I know there's more than 2 around the garden at times, at least. To be honest I think if I had a choice I would choose this sideview box for a nest. It has one of the better cameras out of the ones I am using, and it is the only box I can actually watch the outside of from my office. Also the side view is great. Of course, I am not fussy and will take a nest in any box if I can!! Had sparrows and starlings looking inside the 45mm (actually 44mm) hole boxes today again, so fingers crossed there. The only box that isn't get much action at the moment is the robin one in the bushes. No vists that I know of to that one for weeks now.
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Post by petesbox on Jan 25, 2021 17:09:08 GMT
Great photo Matt.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 25, 2021 17:11:06 GMT
Oh that is brilliant Matt, Very positive sign! I think this year will be your year! Yes I normally get 2 blue tit nest a year, One in front and one in the back, Sadly its always 1 male 2 females though and one female gets left to do it alone. In 2016 I had 3 blue tit nests again that was 1 male 3 females, Luckily all mine have always used the mealworms so even a single mum managers to keep them all alive. wouldn't it be brilliant this year if you ended up with 2 blue tit nests like buses wait for one then 2 come along! Looking forward to seeing what happens with your starling box aswell, I'd really love that to be used!
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Post by karenupnorth on Jan 25, 2021 18:33:05 GMT
This is great Matt, looks very promising!
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