Bird box high up in a tree and the first to receive a visitor (26.11.2023). The visitor was discovered after dark during a routine check of the cameras. That said the restless visitor opted to crawl uphill in the box to where the camera and lamp is fitted. May be warmer or less draughty up there. Birds apparently usually like to return to a safe roost (unlike wandering Hedgehogs). PC software set to respond to that camera by making a sound and an image pops up on the screen to interrupt my viewing, either on the PC or TV. It will also automatically video any intrusion.
12.06.2024 - For the record this box cleaned out and sterilised once I was confident the box had been abandoned.
I see plenty of visitors viewing boxes but no takers. That said I am surrounded by trees which are probably preferred.
Bird feeder full of mealworms which denies the Goldfinches that normal swamp the garden. I may get another feeder for seed and I have a sack of sunflower seed spare.
04.03.2024 - The birdy did not show up last night and we will need to see if it shows up again. Must be getting near time for mating.
That said, there has appeared what I first thought was a lizard but on zooming it is evidently a male newt sub-adult and obviously deceased.
Why would a female great tit hoist a newt into its home. Unless of course it was not the great tit. Maybe another bird spooked the great tit.
I have no idea, will ask around. NB: The house is over 4 metres off the ground in a tree.
10.02.2024: As the guano testifies this female Great Tit continues to return every day, late afternoon, at a time determined by available light.
The software flashes an image on screen immediately the bird triggers the camera so I could catalogue the time each day (I do not).
She has a habit of checking the box from time to time, perhaps concerned that others might invade.
NB: I have seen Robins gathering nest material in the form of moss and I have plenty of that.
16.12.2023: For the record this birdie is now resident, returning home every day between 15.55 and 16.05 depending on light. Obviously roosting over winter. I believe it to be a female. Not very tidy. Plenty of guano forming.
30.11.2023: Lamp still on when I got back from the Goyt and the birdy returned shortly after I did. So I powered down until well after dark and the birdy was dug in for the night. I will not be reporting any further unless there is a change.
29.11.2023: To my surprise the wee birdy is back.
28.11.2023: It was birdy no show today for the record.
The wee bird returned at 15.59 on the dot to roost again. It is a Great Tit (Parus major) and has a lot more energy than I have. I have more video but extracted sufficient for the website.
Interestingly I could see through binoculars that the LED lamp inside the box was still lit which may have confused the bird as it kept looking outside. At least we have some idea about what time they look for a safe harbour with minimum risk from any predators. It is also evident the LED lamp does not disturb them.
I had not anticipated visitors so soon. Mounting the bird boxes was to get them 'aired' ready for the new spring season.
Snapshot of the intruder from 26.11.2023. I will not include the video as only the tail end is visible for the most part. This image captured at night when the IR lighting is relied on.
The empty box with image captured in the day time when the LED lamp is operational. I own a high definition wildlife camera but they are not to my taste in this environment. I much prefer the 700 TVL with Sony sensor.
