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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 17, 2021 12:36:23 GMT
I you look at the head where the blue meets the white part at the back of the head, there is a blue area that goes into the white. Also oh its blak eye line on the right hand side of its face there is a tiny blemish, both birds have that blemish. Pretty sure its Tonys wife Elvira.
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Post by matt on Feb 17, 2021 13:40:47 GMT
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 18, 2021 7:28:15 GMT
I am convinced its the same bird, that tiny mark just before her right eye stands out to me although tiny. She must be interested in your box, especially if she is going in before Tony.
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 18, 2021 7:31:02 GMT
You put a pic up of your first double visit on the 7th Feb, that is Tony and Elvira I reckon
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Post by matt on Feb 18, 2021 10:10:18 GMT
Back again this morning Karen with another double visit - not inside at the same time, but Tony calling followed by herself jumping in a second after he left. They definitely have a preferred box now, I would say - sideview hasn't had a visit in weeks. Still the very occasional look in from a starling in the starling box, but that hasn't really progressed yet. I wonder when they get going usually?
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 18, 2021 11:53:22 GMT
Great stuff! I am not sure when Starlings start, Paul will know more, but I did see Sparrows gathering nesting material up here where I am in North Yorks.
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Post by YorksherLass on Feb 18, 2021 11:54:41 GMT
Great photos Matt! Re this you said in an earlier message: Oh - and first frogspawn of the year in the pond this morning! A lot of it so you should get loads of tadpoles. As Karen said, here in Yorkshire it's much later - early March seems to be the norm for us.
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Post by matt on Feb 18, 2021 11:56:02 GMT
I have heard that sparrows start early. Unfortunately no further visits from them to the two starling boxes, which could also be a reasonable sparrow size. They did pop their heads in a few times, though, which is more than I have had for any other box. Starlings or bust! Starlings were very interested for a few weeks, about a month or two ago, with 10+ visits in a morning to the outside. Much reduced since, with just the occasional one popping its head through the hole. I would be nice to get a starling nest for sure!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 18, 2021 15:12:37 GMT
That looks like the same female bird to me aswell Matt, I don't want to get your hopes up but her visiting alone is very promising! Normally when I have females visiting the box without the male its always gone on to being used by her, so I have everything crossed for you!! Sparrows do start building early sometimes, But its only a few pieces of straw nothing to write home about. My sparrows normally start laying same time as the blue tits, I have never had a sparrow egg laid before April in the 5 years they have used the box even when nest building started late Feb.
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Post by matt on Feb 18, 2021 17:22:29 GMT
ooh - getting excited now Paul I mean, I know there was always interest over the last couple of years, but there is definitely (without doubt) more interest this year at this time than there was before, so we'll see. A nervous month ahead!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 18, 2021 17:47:16 GMT
Yes Matt, All very close now! I think some members will start seeing the "first material" within in the next 3 weeks if the weather doesn't dramatically change of course. Exciting few weeks ahead now!
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Post by matt on Feb 18, 2021 17:52:32 GMT
Fingers crossed Paul. I should say though that she has been to two different boxes on her own! So maybe she is looking at others on her own as well? Who knows - all will be revealed soon enough! The two she likes are both 3 hole concretes.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 18, 2021 18:07:38 GMT
She's probably giving herself options Matt, Some years I have had females bringing material into 3 or 4 of my boxes before sticking to one! Or do a "box swap" after bringing material into another box. Its impossible to know how things will go, But a female coming into your boxes alone without a male is a great sign! I will be surprised if she doesn't use one of the boxes and you bloody deserve it after how much effort you've put into the boxes this year!!! If not, when covid calms down i'll be making my way west sussex and we will be doing a midnight bird box robbery from your neighbours gardens!
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Post by matt on Feb 18, 2021 18:20:42 GMT
If not, when covid calms down i'll be making my way west sussex and we will be doing a midnight bird box robbery from your neighbours gardens! Sounds like a plan!
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Post by matt on Feb 22, 2021 12:04:23 GMT
Quite a busy week at the boxes, with Tony and Elvira popping inside both of the 3 hole concrete boxes just about every day. I was looking back at last year to compare, and was surprised at just how few visits I had - literally only had birds inside the boxes for a couple of days over the whole of Feb, so this year is much more promising in that respect. Too early to call tho, of course!!
Interesting visits this morning to the starling box. A bluetit (maybe Tony - he gets everywhere!) was looking in through the hole for a minute or so, before being displaced by a sparrow, who then spent about 30 seconds peering in (didn't go right in). Haven't seen a sparrow inspection for quite a while before today.
Oh, and the woodpecker is back on the fat ball feeder as well, hadn't seen him for a while either (I know not everyone likes them on here!).
Plus about 20 frogs at once in the pond during the day yesterday, croaking away and having quite a "gathering". I've not seen that happen in the day time before - and today there isn't a frog to be seen in there. Spring is definitely in the air!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 22, 2021 14:33:32 GMT
All sounds really promising for you this year Matt! Lets hope the concrete boxes pull through!
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Post by matt on Feb 22, 2021 14:42:47 GMT
Thanks Paul. What do you think about the bluetit/sparrow thing? I've never seen it before, but the sparrow elbowed (do birds have elbows? ) the bluetit out of the way and started looking in the box..
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 22, 2021 15:33:42 GMT
God knows with that Matt, Abit of a strange one if the sparrow has never been inside the box. Would make sure if its visiting the box regular and eyeing it up, But you never know with these birds do you? No sparrows are looking into my box at the moment which as been used for 5 years, I do believe our female died over autumn / winter though sadly, So might need to wait for another couple to eye it up.
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 22, 2021 18:36:59 GMT
Great news Matt, Tony and Elvira I think will be signing the tenancy agreement soon I love Wood peckers we very rarely see them in our garden, have seen one 3 times since we moved in our home 6 years ago. Your pond is a great success for the local frogs, welldone
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Post by matt on Feb 23, 2021 16:59:28 GMT
A couple of visits today, just to the one box. I think that if they are going to choose any of my boxes, then this is the one they will go for - it has had far more vists, especially recently, than any of the others. Today's vists were a bit longer, and both involved both Tony & Elvira (he called her in twice), so I am taking that as a positive! Very windy today here, but settling down soon I think, and we are going to get a week of proper spring weather.. Tony looking very proper, and handsome! Both of them together after Tony called her in. Didn't get a great shot of this, Tony was out like a shot! Elvira having a look around:
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Post by Ann70 on Feb 23, 2021 17:40:58 GMT
Matt i really hope that it is our year for a nest, it is looking promising for us, I wished I could fast forward seeing the nest being built,hopefully it’s not to long to wait now
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Post by matt on Feb 23, 2021 17:45:59 GMT
Ann I am the same! I think the next few weeks are the worst in some ways, since the early activity and excitement kind of wears off, and now we just have to wait for the birds to decide - and they do like to keep us guessing! Even if they do choose our boxes, I guess it will be another 3-4 weeks before they really commit, so we just have to wait and see..
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 23, 2021 18:01:46 GMT
Very promising signs Matt, I must say all the years I have seen your activity this is probably the most promising of them all! I have everything crossed for you! They can bring the first material in anytime now, It won't lead to much until mid march onwards when the more serious building starts, However getting the first material in is the next step in the excitement! Lovely pictures by the way!
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 24, 2021 7:24:12 GMT
Great pics Matt, great to see lots of visits. I wonder if they have chosen already I often wonder when in the process this happens.
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Post by matt on Feb 24, 2021 9:50:59 GMT
I wonder too, Karen! Lots of action this morning, 10 or more visits to the same concrete box, most of them with Tony calling Elvira in. She does go in, but only stays a second or two before leaving, and no wriggles or really extended stays for her yet (as opposed to Tony, who often spends a minute in there - he definitely seems the keenest!). Both of them together: A nice shot of Elvira, just before she left! Another couple shot (Elvira looking down):
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