Wildlife - in and around the parishes
2010 Bird Cams
Whats happening in your garden?
Got frog spawn in mine!
This particularly large lump was laid? spawned? what-ever, 1st week in February (2010)
Watch this space for the hatching
6 weeks later ....
Unfortunatly, unknown to me there were 6 fish in that pond and they ate all the frog eggs and tadpoles.
Mission
Drain the pond, remove the fish, rescue the 126 newts (common), refill the pond and rehabilitate the newts (and 1 very slippery frog).How did the fish get there in the first place?
I guess there were fish eggs on some plants I moved last year from the fish pond to the wildlife pond.
In the meantime....
The toads have been active, laid loads of spawn in the fish pond (fish dont like toad spawn or tadpoles) and have all succesfully hatched. Thousands of them!
21st June, the toad tadpoles, having now aquired 4 legs and lost their tails are now leaving the ponds in their droves.
Experimental Webcam Project 2009
The 2009 "Bird Cam" experiment completed, with 7 eggs laid, 7 chicks hatched and 7 chicks fledged. Unknown to the Blue Tits, their progress was monitored by over 130 watchers. The experimental camera and video server was cobbled together with bits and pieces retrieved from a number of sheds plus the local recycling centre. Technical details of this experimental set up can be found here. The original experimental camera and server have now been dismantled - Birdcam Administrator 27/07/09
Web Cam Project 2010
A new project was begun (20/02/10) with the acquisition of new cameras. The diary of events following the installation of the first camera is recorded below. Sadly, as will be seen, the nest box was not adopted this year so there was little to see. To compensate for this cameras were located at garden bird tables with a modicum of success.
In preparation for next spring, locations are being sought for our cameras. If you have a nest site or box in or near the parish that is regularly used and would be prepared to host one of our cameras, please get in touch by clicking here.
Alternatively please contact us by using the Contacts page and selecting Bird Cam Administrator - 24/08/10
2010 Birdcam Diary
February
- 20/02/10 - bluetits very active around the nestbox with much coming and going.
20/02/10 - new camera fitted to nestbox. On dismantling the nestbox it could be seen that during the last couple of weeks the bluetits have completely cleared the nestbox of last years nest, not a shred of it remains.
22/02/10 - bluetits very active again today. They have been very interested in the new camera and the revised daylighting arrangment but they appear not to be phased by it. Interestingly, observing them from outside the nestbox, a single bird has been most active, apparently preparing the nest, flying in and out collecting debris from inside and depositing it outside. After several hours of this a bird entered the nest and lay in the bottom for an extended period of time. Could this have been the female checking it out or just a weary nestbuilder taking time out? See the recording here.
22/02/10 - 03/03/10 plenty of activity at the beginning of this period with two birds in and out of the nest box several times a day. However activity has almost come to a halt over the last three days. This is worrying, as this coincides with the installation of the second external camera which is viewing the perch of the nestbox. We are hoping that the addition of this extra camera has not been a step too far and that bluetits have become nervous of the location. Nevertheless, it is probably best to leave the camera in situ and hope that the birds get used to it rather than remove it and introduce yet another change.
03/03/10 - 08/03/10 I'm relieved to be able to report several days of activity with birds accessing the nest almost on a daily basis so I'm hopeful that they haven't been put off by the new technology.
March - May 2010 Sadly no bird has decided to take up residence in the nestbox this year. Perhaps the new cameras have made the birds feel less secure? One of the cameras (Polyphemus) has been relocated to a bird table in the parish and we are now considering relocating the other camera (Cyclops) in order to provide viewers with alternative wildlife activity. Birdcam administrator 12/05/10.
May 2010 - In an attempt to make up for the lack of action in the nest box, a third camera (LongJohn) has been located at another bird table in the parish.
August 2010 - Project abandoned with an appeal for alternative sites for next year
Wildlife Videos From around the Parishes
- Swallow Chick in the wood shed of a garden in Littleham.
Swallows frequently nest in our woodshed returning the the same nest year after year. This year (2009) I managed to capture this fledgling as it was about to eat its lunch. Mari.