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Post by suep on Apr 12, 2023 18:25:02 GMT
It’s a ‘yes’ from me Sue
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Post by Ann70 on Apr 12, 2023 19:31:37 GMT
Yes defo an egg
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Post by pete11 on Apr 12, 2023 21:13:11 GMT
Excellent Pete. You got a live stream sorted yet? Alas John no I haven't. There is also no audio on the RTSP stream on this new camera and that's been verified as a fault by GF. I'm keeping things minimal now - just using the GF smartphone app and grabbing any interesting clips as they get detected automatically. Assuming the eggs hatch I'll probably switch the camera to continuous record for a while... Hoping to have much better tech ready for next year.
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Post by pete11 on Apr 13, 2023 6:54:12 GMT
Early morning fussing seems to be the only time she's revealing what might be in the nest cup - probably because the eggs are being laid during the very early hours. First pic here shows one egg very clearly, but I'm starting to think there might actually be three in there at the moment - see pic 2.
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Post by Ann70 on Apr 13, 2023 7:35:19 GMT
Oh great Pete I can see 3 eggs 😊
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Post by sammi on Apr 13, 2023 7:39:37 GMT
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Post by suep on Apr 13, 2023 8:33:26 GMT
Three very likely looking eggs . Don’t see can be anything else Pete. Sue
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Post by pete11 on Apr 17, 2023 6:24:39 GMT
Six....seven... maybe even eight eggs now....
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 17, 2023 6:37:12 GMT
She is doing very well, goodluck to them
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Post by starling78 on Apr 17, 2023 6:56:41 GMT
Eggcellent!
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Post by pete11 on Apr 17, 2023 7:46:59 GMT
I've got a feeling this isn't the same female as last year... This one is much more protective of the eggs and hardly leaves them exposed for more than a split second. She's always softly extending a wing over them whenever she's making nest adjustments. By contrast last year's female left her eggs loads of times completely visible, almost to the point of carelessness. Made them much easier to count at least.
It was much warmer last spring though, so I wonder if it's all sowewhat related to temperature/weather?
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benn
Senior Member
Posts: 138
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Post by benn on Apr 17, 2023 8:39:59 GMT
Wow! Eggs Pete! Not even a piece of moss in my boxes. I am beginning to think my birds are fooling me and have chosen to nest elsewhere!
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Post by matt on Apr 17, 2023 8:47:10 GMT
Wow! Eggs Pete! Not even a piece of moss in my boxes. I am beginning to think my birds are fooling me and have chosen to nest elsewhere! Yep, you're miles ahead of me as well! I'm in West Sussex, which is supposed to be relatively warm! I'd guess that my box is two weeks behind the average, and not a late starter/changed nest location since she has been fussing in and out for over a month..
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Post by suep on Apr 17, 2023 9:30:39 GMT
Brilliant Pete, great to get a shot of the eggs. Soon be at the incubation stage 👏🏻. Great news to see some action. Sue
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Post by pete11 on Apr 17, 2023 17:18:50 GMT
Maybe South West London / Surrey borders is generally warmer than elsewhere in the UK and hence nesting is further underway?
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Post by pete11 on Apr 17, 2023 21:27:09 GMT
Can anyone on here advise what's best to get in terms of mealworms - dried or live? And at what point to introduce them? I'm determined to supplement my BTs this year as I'm sure lack of succulent food was a big factor last year in the poor survival rate of the chicks (only 3 fledging out of 15 hatched).
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Post by suep on Apr 17, 2023 22:16:19 GMT
Hi Pete, definitely ‘live’ mealworms or wax worms. The chicks can only get moisture (like we need water) from live food. The parents try to get enough caterpillars, spiders etc but when these are in short supply it is good if we humans can supplement by offering them a source of ‘live’ food . The chicks initially can only swallow tiny things so some people get some mini mealworms, but the chicks do grow very quickly so many just plump for standard mealworms. Hope that is some help. The parents will eat dried mealworms etc as they can get their water elsewhere, but the chicks obviously can’t do this. Go ‘live’ always for chicks. Good idea to try putting some out a few days before the chicks hatch to let the parents ‘find’ this supply and get ready to use them. Good luck. Sue
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Post by pete11 on Apr 18, 2023 7:32:58 GMT
Thanks Sue 👍 I read somewhere about live mealworms being a bit risky as dead ones can carry salmonella? Something I read was claiming soaking dried ones in water before putting them out is less risky.
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Post by suep on Apr 18, 2023 8:18:26 GMT
Not heard that Pete, and never known chicks be fed soaked dried mealworms. I will be interested to hear what others say. Wax worms are definitely a favourite but more expensive. Sue
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Post by matt on Apr 18, 2023 10:50:15 GMT
I remember a year or two ago Pete I ran out of live mealworms and was panicking slightly as mum was getting fairly dependent on them. I tried dried and she wouldn't take them at all, and I think this is pretty common? Luckily my live ones arrived soon enough and all was well, but I've never tried dried again (starlings love them, though!). Just get the smallest meal worms you can.
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Post by pete11 on Apr 19, 2023 5:14:00 GMT
Brief reveal at about 5am... at least eight eggs....
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Post by Ann70 on Apr 19, 2023 7:41:46 GMT
Congrats on the 8 eggs will be good to follow this nest. 😊
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Post by suep on Apr 19, 2023 8:06:51 GMT
Wow Pete, a great number and possibly more hidden. Brilliant Sue
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Post by sammi on Apr 19, 2023 8:35:43 GMT
I wonder if there will be more. I think 9 is the most ours have had over the years. 8 is certainly a good number
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Post by pete11 on Apr 21, 2023 7:38:08 GMT
At last a proper full view! I count 11 eggs in there I think?
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