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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 18, 2019 11:38:48 GMT
Hi Lots of visits today again both male and female coming in to my box 1. Its cold here so very surprised they are even interested!
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Post by matt on Jan 18, 2019 11:49:55 GMT
Jealous of your visits Kathy - we haven't had a peep for a few weeks now, but I am trying to remain relaxed. We didn't get a first visit to last years box until the end of Feb, but we still got a nest (and lots more visits as well)!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 18, 2019 11:52:27 GMT
Brilliant Kathy about the visits, Freezing here today in Liverpool, Currently snowing pretty badly aswell.
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 18, 2019 13:29:27 GMT
Thanks Matt, Don't worry it is way too early and it could all go pear shaped for me anyway. You'll get your nest I'm sure of it. I have a feeling this site is going to be popular once people catch on, I do hope so as it would be a fitting tribute to Elizabeth & Malcolm. Paul I am shivering at the moment and there are a few BT's pecking at my buggy nibbles! (seeds I mean) Ha Ha! Oh meant to say guys I managed to put me Avatar in thanks Paul.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 18, 2019 13:33:17 GMT
Oh kathy you do crack me up I hope this forum is a success this year, John (Malcolm's son) said he would link this on the website, So hopefully people will find us once the old forum closes down. I know members like Beechnut etc don't really come back until March so he will probably miss everything that's happened.
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Post by Ann70 on Jan 18, 2019 15:39:02 GMT
Hi Kathy it has been wonderful being home today for a change and to see the blue tits so busy checking out all the boxes. i was surprised with it so cold today. i did see a blue tit land on the front of my new camera box today, for the first time. ive got the camera on but it hasn't had any visits in there yet, plenty of time though
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 18, 2019 16:52:11 GMT
Hi Ann Pleased to read you too are having interest already it must be lifting your spirits on this cold day. I think though they are going to get confused again as there is bad weather coming in for us tonight. Hopefully it will pass over but you never know. My two roosters are tightly tucked up in bed at 4.30pm! With a few posts now on here it's looking like a proper site can't thank Matt and Paul enough. Paul could you PM Beechnut?
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 18, 2019 17:02:16 GMT
You must of read my mind Kathy, I have sent him a PM already! Whether he reads it in time or not is a different thing. However John Malcolm son did say he will link the new link on the site when the forum is deleted so other members can find us who don't come back until march / april. So I think in the end they will all know about this and join with abit of luck.
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 19, 2019 12:16:38 GMT
Oh my goodness the natives are getting hungry. A male Sparrowhawk dropped by this morning landed on the bird table tray and took a Starling in double quick time! Squeezed its torso with those talons and flew off. Nature I know and it has to eat, I hope is wasn't the Starling that's been looking at my Starling Box Too quick to get a picture unfortunately. All the birds scattered and it went quiet for a good 30 mins before they came back.Hope its gone to the fields satisfied!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 19, 2019 12:26:37 GMT
Poor starling We have a female and male in our garden, Been coming for years now. However since having cages around my feeders they don't kill as much as they used to because they hit the cage and the little birds have time to escape through the gaps. I know its nature but horrible to watch.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2019 13:34:02 GMT
Oh my goodness the natives are getting hungry. A male Sparrowhawk dropped by this morning landed on the bird table tray and took a Starling in double quick time! Squeezed its torso with those talons and flew off. Nature I know and it has to eat, I hope is wasn't the Starling that's been looking at my Starling Box Too quick to get a picture unfortunately. All the birds scattered and it went quiet for a good 30 mins before they came back.Hope its gone to the fields satisfied! Hi BEC I am currently lamenting a lack of tits and finches to my feeders this year. I was wondering why given we are not experiencing a winter that is out of the ordinary. But this last ten days.I have spotted a sparrowhawk hunting several times at the front and back of our house. I am only now seeing to odd blue tit, great tit and robin . Plenty of sparrows and starlings though.
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 19, 2019 14:08:51 GMT
I like your Avatar Benn gorgeous blue eggs I'm not surprised that you are lacking in BT's Sparrow hawks like a tasty Blue Tit I'm afraid. Anyway wait and see, in a few weeks they may come flying back lets hope so. As you know I would love to have a Starling nest and I have high hopes for this season so keep your fingers and toes crossed for me. It would be lovely though for you to have one so we can see all the doings going on. I've been having more BT visits today with the male and female staying in the box much longer than other years so the male must be keen that the female takes the nest site. I have just managed to put a pic on here in Places to visit/ Day out thread, it's taken me 3 hours to work it out!!!!
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 19, 2019 17:03:06 GMT
FIGHT NIGHT-I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!! Well, I went up to check the camera's and within seconds a fight occurred again only this time at roosting. Never had a fight at this time of day before. Resident rooster gave chase,shook its feathers, left, came back, left again and hasn't returned to bed. Why go to all that trouble to keep your site then leave it wide open for any passing BT? BT in Box 2 slept right through it!!! Apologies for the fuzzy frame but they were going at it hammer and tongs!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 19, 2019 17:29:37 GMT
Looks like its going to be a few fights for you along the way Kathy! Same thing happened with Margaret for me last year if you remember, She won the fight however didn't roost in the box again until nest building started. I don't think yours will wait that long though as still while for that was only a week gap with mine. Maybe she will come back tomorrow, I will be watching for your posts!
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 20, 2019 11:30:35 GMT
Morning All Well, the situation this morning is that another small altercation ensued again prior to this photograph being taken but as you can see a pair won the bout and gained access to the box. The male is at the back and was crouching right in the corner to let in the female. I am confused as usual as to what is going on!
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Post by karenupnorth on Jan 20, 2019 11:55:20 GMT
Thats interesting I haven't had any fights but the way you describe one crouching down to let the other in is what I think I may have saw in my box this morning? I just put a post up about it.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 20, 2019 12:18:18 GMT
Oh Kathy, Everything is very productive for you isn't it?! Wonder if nest building will be earlier this year? I mean most of us waited until April last year to see the first material due to all the cold snaps / snow.
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Post by sammi on Jan 20, 2019 21:42:24 GMT
Well it's looking very promising Kathy., Things are certainly hotting up for Spring. I noticed a lot more bird song today than of late.
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 21, 2019 13:56:08 GMT
Yes, that's true Sammi. I have had three Starling visits already this morning. I know the photo isn't brill but there is a little bit of colour on a dull day here. I am not holding my breath for a nest yet but I did think a twig had appeared but on closer inspection of the floor it turned out to be a poo! Blue Tit pair been in also but no nightly rooster now for Box 1!!!
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Post by matt on Jan 21, 2019 14:00:14 GMT
How big is your box/entrance Kathy? We get loads of starlings in our garden so a starling box is definitely in the plans for next year I think!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 21, 2019 14:01:45 GMT
Oh that is very promising Kathy! How long have you had your starling box up by the way? No starlings have checked my box out yet only got put up a week ago like the house sparrows seem keen Be lovely for you to get a starling nest I have my fingers crossed for you
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Post by blueeyedchick on Jan 21, 2019 14:32:56 GMT
Matt/Paul Starling Box erected late 2016 ready for 2017 season. Hole diameter 45mm, floor is about 6 inches square (you can see I am ambidextrous can't you They breed in loose colonies apparently so this may come to nothing but it's nice while it lasts. This bird does not seem to be searching for bugs when in the box so maybe it is looking for a possible nest site, we shall wait and see. Yours Miss Whiplash!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 21, 2019 15:03:44 GMT
As Kathy pointed out Matt 45mm is standard for the starling boxes. Mines the same. Kathy you never know could lead to a nest for you, I have my fingers crossed! Seems like your boxes are getting lots of action already, Surely that is only a good sign for the new season ahead.
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Post by matt on Jan 21, 2019 15:15:34 GMT
Yeah my bad Paul, I didn't realise this was a dedicated starling box having seen the bluetit pics above!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 21, 2019 15:28:12 GMT
Might be worth you making a starling box if you have alot in the area Matt, Would be nice to have a few nests on here that wasn't the standard blue tit / great tit. I know Benn gets starling every year but I think he is the only one.
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