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Post by elle on Jan 14, 2020 22:31:54 GMT
Picture quality is superb Matt, I do hope you get a nest this year Matt, I’ve got everything crossed for you Elle xx
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Post by matt on Jan 20, 2020 11:27:38 GMT
Not a lot going on round my way, despite the nice weather over the last few days - a couple of quick visits to two of the boxes is all. I did finally get the 5th box up, on the side of my garden office. No visits yet though, it's been up 3 days!
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Post by karenupnorth on Jan 20, 2020 11:42:08 GMT
Looks to be in a good spot Matt, with the foliage around it. Im sure it will get a visit soon.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 20, 2020 12:03:32 GMT
Looks a great little spot that Matt, Fingers crossed for you this year!
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Post by natalie on Jan 20, 2020 23:19:40 GMT
Nice placement for the 5th box
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Post by sammi on Jan 21, 2020 17:12:02 GMT
I agree Matt. Looks like a lovely spot. Good luck.
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Post by Amanda on Jan 21, 2020 19:34:46 GMT
Fab spot, I bet you will spend more time watching than working
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Post by matt on Jan 24, 2020 13:58:15 GMT
No visits to the new box at all in its first week, and no visits to any of the other 4 either this week, despite the decent weather. I am hoping/expecting scouting activity to pick up soon, as the last two years things really picked up at exactly this time (last week of Jan). From then on it was almost daily visits to most boxes through to the end of Feb, although of course I didn't end up getting a nest last year. Fingers crossed!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 24, 2020 14:24:35 GMT
Wondered where you was Matt, I'm surprised your not getting visits giving how high number of blue tits are around for you now. Hope visits pick up for you, I'll be so disappointed if your overlooked again! Really want to see a full nest happening with the quality your cameras produce, I honestly have everything crossed for you. I'll keep a watch for your posts hopefully things heat up soon.
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Post by matt on Jan 24, 2020 14:53:36 GMT
Thanks Paul, me too! It was interesting looking at the old "visit videos" from the last two years. I can see the dates that they were recorded, so I get a good idea of how active things were since I have a short video for every visit to every box. Things are very quiet in December and January, and then really kick off quite suddenly around this time of year. Both of the last two years this meant going from a total of just a couple of visits in a month, to a visit to most boxes on most days from now(ish) until end Feb. Then they go away for a few weeks and - ideally - come back and start making a nest at end of March/early April. Given all that, I've actually had more visits over winter than the last two years, so am now expecting (hoping!) that the visits really pick up soon. A little bit surprised not to have more action over the last week, given the weather we have had - next week looks stormy again. You were right about the number of bluetits dropping though - I still have one that is on and off the fat feeder for most the day, but the winter flock of 10-20 that has been buzzing around seems to have broken up. Long tail tits are still coming in a group of about 10 though, which is nice.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 24, 2020 15:16:30 GMT
Its good you have a pattern to follow with Matt, It could be how the birds in your area behave maybe? How is your number of blue tits looking now? I've noticed mine are going down abit now, I still have 4 blue tit roosters (was 5) when it was 5 I think it was 2 males 3 females (judging by how dirty the males leave the boxes) So at moment I think I am with 3 female roosters and 1 male, Over winter we normally have around 20 blue tits well in the 20's 20-25 I'd say but by march we will have around 6 left. I have noticed over the last week when activity around my boxes have picked up that the numbers in garden are slowly dropping down already, Is it the same in your garden? We also have a little gang of long tail tits I think around 7 of them all come at once to the fat ball feeders.
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Post by matt on Jan 24, 2020 15:38:11 GMT
Definitely fewer around than there were - I haven't seen the flock of 10-15 bluetits that were coming into the hedge and around the feeder for a while, but one or two still visit the fat feeder throughout the day. Weird that things seem behind you down here, when you'd think we'd be ahead if anything.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2020 17:15:17 GMT
Just logging in to say your boxes and technical prowess is amazing Matt! Loved the pics of your Garden and boxes!
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Post by petesbox on Jan 25, 2020 19:13:51 GMT
Hi Matt, just curious have you had GT's visiting the garden.
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Post by matt on Jan 26, 2020 15:19:36 GMT
Pete, Just the one GT on the feeders, and only occasionally, over winter. First season I did have a GT pop his head in one of the boxes a few times, but that was all. No sign last season. Would be great to have one nesting! I don't really see a lot of them around here, to be honest.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 30, 2020 17:44:57 GMT
Anything happening in your boxes Matt?
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Post by matt on Jan 30, 2020 19:28:34 GMT
It's crickets around here Paul - nothing happening at all! No visits to the new one yet, just one fleeting visit to another of the boxes in total over the last two weeks.. Hopefully it will pick up soon. Still plenty of birds on the feeders, although definitely not as many bluetits as there was at the peak. Long tail tits are still going around as a flock though - I had seven hanging off the fat ball feeder at once this afternoon!
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Post by sammi on Jan 31, 2020 15:58:05 GMT
Hi Matt, I love those long tailed tits. They always make my day when they appear. Hopefully the bluetits will start house hunting seriously soon. Fingers crossed for you.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Jan 31, 2020 16:00:58 GMT
Hopefully things pick up for you heading into February Matt , Just thought I'd ask with seeing all the activity with females in peoples boxes. The blue tit numbers likely to keep dropping as we head into February Matt, Happens every year in my garden, When a male controls an area the other males have no chance. got everything crossed for you for this season can't believe we're in February tomorrow to be honest, Not long at all now.
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Post by matt on Feb 1, 2020 10:44:59 GMT
A couple of visits this morning in the sun, so hopefully things will pick up soon! Edit: I don't know why, but images aren't showing up in posts for me at the moment. Can anyone see this one? Edit 2: seems to be an issue with postimages.org. I have tried a new hosting site, imgbb.com which seems to be working (for now).
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 1, 2020 12:15:00 GMT
Glad you've started getting visits Matt, Long may it continue on to nesting this year for you
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 1, 2020 14:39:16 GMT
Fingers crossed for you Matt, really great close up of your visitor.
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Post by Amanda on Feb 1, 2020 21:58:44 GMT
Stunning photo Matt
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Post by sammi on Feb 2, 2020 12:01:56 GMT
Wow Matt how beautiful is that bird😍
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Post by matt on Feb 5, 2020 9:47:25 GMT
Still not really getting many visits (none to any box on most days), but did get the first double visit of the season this morning - you can just see the prospective Mrs (presumably) hanging on outside!
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