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Post by matt on Mar 27, 2019 14:01:39 GMT
No Karen. Last few days have been early visits then nothing all day. It's got to be crunch time pretty soon, if it hasn't already happened. One does wonder what goes through their minds - if they have a place elsewhere, why look? Backup? Still nearly two weeks ahead of when they started last year, although I am sure it will be earlier if it happens.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 27, 2019 14:10:14 GMT
I know I wish I knew what they are thinking. Hope is dwindling but but I have learnt that these creatures have a habit of misleading us. It is a waiting game.
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Post by matt on Mar 27, 2019 14:22:10 GMT
Well we were almost exactly in sync last year Karen, so fingers crossed it will happen again. Although it is infuriating, I must admit I do find this "will they won't they" period quite exciting in its own right, although of course ideally with a positive outcome!
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Post by Amanda on Mar 27, 2019 17:32:41 GMT
I hope you get your nests Matt and Karenupnorth I am in the same boat, a pair of blue tits (named: curly toe and stripy nose) are nesting nextdoor, but still visit my tree box 8 - 10 times a day, both single and double visits. I have been at work this week so not been able to watch what’s happening outside the box, I’m off tomorrow I can watch what they are doing. On a positive note, I have a pair of collared doves nesting in one of my trees
Good luck
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Post by matt on Mar 27, 2019 17:37:15 GMT
It's crazy isn't it Amanda? I wonder why they do it to us - what is the point of them traipsing around all these other boxes if they are already nesting elsewhere? Surely they are busy enough already! Fingers crossed for all of us as we go into these crunch couple of weeks..
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 27, 2019 17:41:31 GMT
Thanks Amanda, I wonder why they do this, I think it must be they are keeping an eye on boxes in their patch. Love the names you gave them.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 27, 2019 18:33:55 GMT
Matt, Tatty (Our Female) only visited during the morning before "serious" building started, Wouldn't see her or him after 10am. I think its pretty normal when they visit its all done of a morning, I don't know why but its always been the case for me anyway! The fact that female is coming into the box is only a good sign, Hopefully they haven't got there eye on somewhere else and take up in one of your boxes. But such a shame after all work you done on 3 boxes led lights mics etc for them not to use any of them, So I have my fingers crossed for you! P.s Amanda, I have a collared dove nest building in our bush by the pond, About 7 foot high I'd say the nest is. Going to try and get a camera over it when she egg lays. Still building at moment, She is roosting on the nest tonight though just had little look before and she was looking over the nest at me!
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Post by matt on Mar 27, 2019 19:28:32 GMT
Thanks Paul - yes, it is all very consistent with what happened last year. A couple of early morning visits, then nothing all day, and also a few weeks of disappearing in March (or only visiting the outside of the box - my motion detector doesn't always go off for that any more, so I wouldn't know). In fact if it wasn't for everyone else's early starts I wouldn't be worrying at all, so I'll sit tight. I've never really had the big numbers of visits in a day that some seem to get - one or two is a good day for any particular box - but this was the same last year. When they finally decided, they came 7 times the day before and then about 30 visits on the morning that nest building started, including first "wriggle", before material started coming in about lunch time. So it basically started with a bang! Fingers crossed for same this year.
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Post by suep on Mar 27, 2019 19:45:57 GMT
Oh Matt, I so hope you do get a nest. This forum is all thanks to you and Paul and it would be criminal if you were left just watching other people’s good fortune. I am keeping everything crossed for you Sue
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Post by sammi on Mar 27, 2019 22:25:41 GMT
I second that Sue. Everything crossed here too. There are so many variables involved. The box where nesting is happening here was so quiet leading up to the start and then it's full steam ahead. It's still early days ...
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Post by matt on Mar 27, 2019 22:29:12 GMT
Thanks guys, I hope so too. Its not the end of the world if it doesn't happen of course, but it is a long wait until our next opportunity!
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Post by matt on Mar 28, 2019 9:56:28 GMT
About 5 or so very quick visits again this morning to two of the boxes. Here's a nice close up from one of the videos - the male again (I think!). I was actually able to watch this visit - female popped over after the male had left to sit in a tree, and just looked through the hole for a few seconds before flying off.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 28, 2019 10:18:16 GMT
That picture is stunning I’ll be so f**king disappointed if you don’t get a nest when the quality of your content is that brilliant! I am glad visits have increased, just strange how the female isn’t showing that much interest makes me think she is building elsewhere really hope that isn’t the case and she’s just a first time female Got everything crossed for you Matt! Every time you update I think you might of got the first material always click the thread in 0.1 seconds
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Post by matt on Mar 28, 2019 10:26:00 GMT
Thanks Paul. The way I see it is at least I am getting some nice pictures of the birds if nothing else, and it has given me the chance to test the new camera/lights set up and fine tune for if/when it happens - either this year or next (or the one after!). The good news is that the garden is really coming on from the wildlife-desert it was, with native hedge planted and thriving (still small), new wildlife pond in over winter (goldfinches, sparrow, starlings pigeon and two crows all taking a bath this morning!) and wildflower/meadow grass patch all recently planted up, so hopefully we will have more birds in general by next year, which might make the boxes more attractive. It's a long game!
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 28, 2019 10:31:57 GMT
Awesome pic of the male Matt, I am the same as Paul as soon as I see your update I am hoping you have got material.
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Post by YorksherLass on Mar 28, 2019 15:26:18 GMT
A really wonderful photo Matt, such detail. When we moved here 12 years ago the garden was a wilderness, grass 3 foot high & when we cleared it all, to our surprise we found a small pond hiding behind loads of bramble bushes. There was hardly anything in the rest of the garden, so we planted everything in it. Mostly evergreen bushes, but our flowers are lots of the daisy family to attract bees, insects etc. after we cut out borders at the sides of the garden & reshaped the lawn.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 28, 2019 15:30:27 GMT
Sounds like you've made a good wildlife garden to me Matt!
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Post by matt on Mar 28, 2019 15:40:16 GMT
Sounds like you've made a good wildlife garden to me Matt! Thanks Paul. I think we've got the basics in place, but need a year or two to grow it all in. The birds have only recently taken a liking to the pond, perhaps due to this dry spell. This morning all sorts were taking advantage, including goldfinches which we don't see that often. There were also three wood pigeons all sitting down in a huddle like they were in a Turkish baths!
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Post by suep on Mar 28, 2019 18:16:35 GMT
F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C photo Matt. Superb quality. yahoo_clap Sue
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Post by sammi on Mar 28, 2019 19:05:23 GMT
Wow Matt......I think that's the best photo of a bluetit I have ever seen. I think he looks as if he's very impressed with the box. Your garden sounds great too. Like you say it takes time but the wildlife will soon fill every corner
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Post by elle on Mar 28, 2019 19:19:18 GMT
Stunning close up Matt, I too hope you get a nest, as Paul has mentioned, it would be amazing to see a nest with that quality keeping my fingers crossed for you Elle xx
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Post by Beechnut on Mar 29, 2019 11:28:41 GMT
WOW! What a pic - seems like you could reach out and touch him Matt.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 29, 2019 12:31:50 GMT
Any visits today Matt? Don't know about down south (guessing it be warmer than here) But its been lovely and sunny and warm the past few days, I seen temps due to drop to around 10c/9c from tomorrow though and more cloudy. Then again that is the average for this time of year so not to bad for the birds I guess.
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Post by matt on Mar 29, 2019 13:28:41 GMT
Just one very short visit to the outside of the house box Paul. The "early shift" didn't happen today - last 5 days or so there has been activity at around 6.30-7.00, but today just one visit at 10.30.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 29, 2019 15:25:07 GMT
Hopefully the activity picks up for you over the coming days as we head into April Matt, Really hoping you get a nest.
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