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Post by suep on Mar 20, 2022 14:43:28 GMT
Hi everyone  , yes I am still about and keeping my eye on the forum but nothing for me to report. Although I have had a camera box up on my balcony for several months now I have seen neither hide nor hair (or should that be tail or feather?) of interest.  I am guessing that a balcony is not the most suitable of locations for raising a family, I think we are a bit too high up, and knew it was always going to be a gamble. I have had some interest from a great tit to the box I managed to sneak on the back of our garage which I can see easily, and is near a lovely tree, but I am really not hopeful. There are lots of blue tits about as I can hear and see them all the time , but unfortunately although we are surrounded by trees, which is lovely, they are mainly of the fir and cedar type , just not conducive to attracting food for the smaller birds. I will still be popping in from time to time (you don’t get rid of me that easily  ). Good luck to you all for the coming season, I so hope you all get nests and lots of chicks. I am especially hoping that everyone that didn’t get a nest last year has plenty this year to make up for it. Best regards to you all Sue ❤️ |
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 20, 2022 17:05:37 GMT
Hi sue, how about trying a swallow box, would that be more suitable?
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Post by suep on Mar 21, 2022 10:04:09 GMT
Sounds like a great idea Karen, but I had to go through hoops to get a bird box put up in first place, and I always knew it wasn’t really suitable but just wanted that ‘hope’. Don’t think hubby or neighbours would agree to a different box let alone swifts flying around all over the place. (Neighbour on balcony below us thought our one blue tit nest box was a really bad idea, ‘encouraging awful birds to invade our privacy’). Don’t get me wrong, we are enjoying our new way of living and being close to the sea, but I so miss having my private garden and seeing the birds on feeders or in the bird bath. Can’t have it all and with everything else going on in the world I think we are very lucky.
Hope all goes well for you Karen. I will be watching all with interest.
Sue
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 21, 2022 12:43:23 GMT
Nice to have you back with us Sue,
Hope you've settled in to your new place well? I'll keep everything crossed for you on the nesting side of things!
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 21, 2022 15:31:35 GMT
Thanks sue, such a pity your neighbours feel that way,  |
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Post by Ann70 on Apr 13, 2022 11:27:17 GMT
Hi Sue I feel for you not having a nest, good that you can share all the nests on here It helps a tiny bit  |
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Post by suep on Apr 13, 2022 13:39:12 GMT
It certainly does help Ann. Love seeing and hearing of everyone’s progress 👍🏻
Sue
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Post by Ann70 on Apr 13, 2022 14:17:21 GMT
I’ve invested in a stone nest box it’s going to replace one of my log boxes,I put it up after the nests had started, not expecting anything this time,
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Post by suep on Apr 13, 2022 15:34:33 GMT
I so hope that will get plenty of use Ann - I am thinking of trying to put my stone ‘lucky’ box to replace the one on the back of our garage next year (it is way too heavy for balcony as has to be drilled with a bolt right through wall). Have to put it up under cover of darkness and hope the residents don’t object lol
Sue
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Post by sammi on Apr 14, 2022 7:04:32 GMT
I so hope that will get plenty of use Ann - I am thinking of trying to put my stone ‘lucky’ box to replace the one on the back of our garage next year (it is way too heavy for balcony as has to be drilled with a bolt right through wall). Have to put it up under cover of darkness and hope the residents don’t object lol Sue Hi Sue I have recently re-taken up sewing and I think I have a pattern for a onesie I could make in a nice camouflage jersey. Just let me know when you need it.  If you paint the box the same colour as the garage they will never know. Call it a new ventilation system. |
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Post by Ann70 on Apr 14, 2022 7:19:27 GMT
Hi Sue Go for it put it up, blow the residents it want be interfering with them. Love Sammi post. Look at the joy it will bring to you and even them.🙂 |
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Post by suep on Apr 14, 2022 7:36:58 GMT
I so hope that will get plenty of use Ann - I am thinking of trying to put my stone ‘lucky’ box to replace the one on the back of our garage next year (it is way too heavy for balcony as has to be drilled with a bolt right through wall). Have to put it up under cover of darkness and hope the residents don’t object lol Sue Hi Sue I have recently re-taken up sewing and I think I have a pattern for a onesie I could make in a nice camouflage jersey. Just let me know when you need it. If you paint the box the same colour as the garage they will never know. Call it a new ventilation system. Better get sewing Sammi . Love it. Trouble is garage is in a block and a tree covers the back of ours almost obscuring it from our view. We squeezed the one that's there at the moment on the borderline between ours and our next door neighbours garage, to fix the lucky box we would need to drill through our neighbours garage to put a bolt through and don’t know how I can find her garage keys . So only other option is to chop down the ornamental tree obscuring our view. Do your sewing skills come up to making a tree Sammi ?- i’ll take a photo for you to work from . You lot crack me up- so glad we have this forum. Ann, the bird box would bring everyone much joy I know - just have to convince certain others of this. Sue |
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Post by sammi on Apr 14, 2022 17:33:08 GMT
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Post by suep on Apr 24, 2022 8:34:26 GMT
 Don’t get excited, not anything to do with me. Dog sat at my daughters yesterday and found out that the blue tits she thought had disappeared after building a nest, have not disappeared at all. Just my daughter doesn’t watch as closely as me and my guess is that incubation is in progress. Mum left the box two or three times for a quick comfort break and then straight back in the box. Trouble is, have no idea how long this has been going on, but am setting her up with a Scott feeder and live mealworms pronto. Last time she had a nest all the chicks died, so now I have given her proof they are still there she is determined to give them all the help she can.  Sue |
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Post by sammi on Apr 26, 2022 5:55:59 GMT
I did a double take when I saw the picture Sue as I thought the birds had found your new place. Im glad you have a nest to watch though and have passed on your mealworm knowledge. I hope the nest thrives. |
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Post by suep on Apr 26, 2022 8:31:20 GMT
Thanks Sammi, thought it might confuse people  . Won’t be able to watch the nest very often but am hoping my daughter will notice when feeding starts so I can hopefully get to see the babies. Time will tell. At least they now at least have mealworms that hopefully they find and can use if necessary. My granddaughters and son in law seem more than happy to handle the worms - unlike my daughter . Sue |
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Post by matt on Apr 26, 2022 9:10:19 GMT
Great picture Sue!
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Post by suep on May 17, 2022 16:34:11 GMT
Well nothing of my own to report so I have been watching my daughters blue tits. It is day 17 today since they first noticed feeding and below is a little frenzy of feeding if anyone is interested. I know you all see this all the time but this is from a hand held camera from outside the box. I dont think I will be lucky enough to see them fledging as too far to travel on buses on the 'just in case scenario'. My daughter has promised to try and get a photo of a chick, but if I know her and family they will totally miss as not that interested Sue ps. Sorry about noise from builders next door.. luckily the birds were not put off by them or me |
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Post by Taz on May 17, 2022 17:33:23 GMT
That's great video Sue, especially being hand held.
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Post by sammi on May 17, 2022 18:34:50 GMT
Great video Sue. I never get tired of watching them.  |
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Post by Ann70 on May 18, 2022 19:11:21 GMT
Lovely video I love the box 😊
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Post by suep on May 21, 2022 17:47:18 GMT
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Post by Ann70 on May 21, 2022 20:23:43 GMT
Hi Sue Fantastic photos, Your daughters family are in the bird club now, I can hear them saying roll on for next spring Now they will understand all about your interest and the lack of no nest to follow. How a lovely holiday Sue 🌞🌞😎 |
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benn
Senior Member
Posts: 138
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Post by benn on May 21, 2022 21:11:35 GMT
Fantastic Sue!!!! Your photos are spectacular and really brightened our evening!!!!
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Post by suep on May 21, 2022 21:20:40 GMT
Hi Sue Fantastic photos, Your daughters family are in the bird club now, I can hear them saying roll on for next spring Now they will understand all about your interest and the lack of no nest to follow. How a lovely holiday Sue 🌞🌞😎 I can hear them too Ann, I bet they wouldn’t give me my bird box back now Sue |
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, yes I am still about and keeping my eye on the forum but nothing for me to report. Although I have had a camera box up on my balcony for several months now I have seen neither hide nor hair (or should that be tail or feather?) of interest. 
I am guessing that a balcony is not the most suitable of locations for raising a family, I think we are a bit too high up, and knew it was always going to be a gamble. I have had some interest from a great tit to the box I managed to sneak on the back of our garage which I can see easily, and is near a lovely tree, but I am really not hopeful. There are lots of blue tits about as I can hear and see them all the time , but unfortunately although we are surrounded by trees, which is lovely, they are mainly of the fir and cedar type , just not conducive to attracting food for the smaller birds.
).
If you paint the box the same colour as the garage they will never know. Call it a new ventilation system. 
I am sure someone will have a plan 
. Won’t be able to watch the nest very often but am hoping my daughter will notice when feeding starts so I can hopefully get to see the babies. Time will tell. At least they now at least have mealworms that hopefully they find and can use if necessary. My granddaughters and son in law seem more than happy to handle the worms - unlike my daughter 
Here
