March Wildlife Challenge 2016

Post by **Grandad** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:47 pm

What is a 'Flicker' LLL?

It was a bit quiet when I watched for a little while but this Great Tit did oblige.

Post by **bigken** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 9:29 pm

Not taken in my back garden

but we are just back today from a week in a cottage at a place called Ellenabeich in Scotland, it sits about half a mile from a small island called Easdale ( about 14 miles from Oban), so on Thursday we took the Granddaughter on a 2hr Sea-fari boat trip around Scarba. Here are a few off what we seen

Sea Eagle

chilling out

seal

Another one

Phalacrocorax aristotelis ( wouldn't let me put in the word S@@g in)

hard to make out but its a sea eagles nest with a couple of chicks in

same again except one is stood on a branch

a few wild goats, but on a closer look you can make out a few deers antlers in the top left off the photo

another seal

Post by **LovelyLadyLux** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 9:37 pm

WOW BK - EXCELLENT! Super great! How do you get them to actually LOOK at you and pose?

@Grandad - I don't have a picture of one but this is the Flicker we have here:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Flicker/id

Post by **bigken** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 9:42 pm

With me being so handsome they couldn't help but look

or it could be the noise of the boat ?

Post by **Grandad** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:17 pm

Good to see you BK and an interesting trip around the islands and some good pics.

Why is it I can't see the eagles nest? But it is late in the evening.

@LLL, what a lovely bird the flicker is.

Post by **bigken** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:41 pm

It is hard to make out, hope this helps

Post by **Jayway** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 11:42 pm

Great photos, that Flicker must be a relative of our Hoopoe.

Post by **Kiya** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 11:03 am

Great pictures BK

and good to see you didn't have too bad weather.

Post by **Horus** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 11:46 am

Great set of picures from you BK and you did well getting the Eagle, really nice

Nice clear shot of the Great Tit Grandad, I am off out shortly with a friend and we are taking Annie around another resevoir with two lakes and some nice walks. There are usually lots of birds to be seen, in particular some Nuthatches if I am lucky, I will be giving my old HS10 an outing as it is quite light compared to my X-S1. The HS10 was the first iteration of the HS series, HS10, HS20, HS30 & finally the HS50 that yourself and LLL own, I will have to learn how to use it all over again

so picture quality is in some doubt, the advantage though is it's longer zoom.

LLL, I also checked out the Flicker and agree with Grandad that is certainly is an enchanting looking bird and obviously of the Woodpecker family.

Post by **LovelyLadyLux** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 5:32 pm

So far this morning I've seen a sparrow at the feeder and another bird that had red on its side. The sparrow initially wouldn't go into the feed and was hung on the wire outside but then I saw his tail stuck out the side from the middle. The slightly bigger bird definitely was trying for all he was worth to get into it and could just shove his head in but am not sure he could read a feeder. He did hop all around the bottom but I'm not too sure if much has actually spilled yet.

Not going to zip out with the camera just yet. Going to wait until they all get more confident about coming to the feeder then I'll set up

Just happy to see it has now been discovered so am thinking in a few days it'll be attracting a regular contingent.

Post by **Grandad** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:56 pm

Got up very close and personal with 'Missy' this evening. She waited while I got something for her to eat so I was able to get a good look and she is definitely not pregnant. So we have one vixen who is pregnant and hopefully if Missy is related she will help with the cubs. When I get the camera mounted I will be able to show just how trusting Missy is.

Post by **LovelyLadyLux** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 11:22 pm

Can't wait to see your videos Grandad.

Today I had a couple of birds at the feeder which is good meaning they've now discovered it.

What do you do with your bird feeders when it rains? Just started raining here and while there is a cap on top of the seed I'm wondering if the seed inside will get wet. Am also wondering if it gets wet how long it will take it to either germinate or mould and if the birds will continue to eat it .....

Post by **Grandad** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 1:39 pm

LovelyLadyLux wrote:What do you do with your bird feeders when it rains? Just started raining here and while there is a cap on top of the seed I'm wondering if the seed inside will get wet. Am also wondering if it gets wet how long it will take it to either germinate or mould and if the birds will continue to eat it .....

Rain doesn't seem to be a problem LLL. With a cover on top and the design of those little hatches, no rain gets in. As for seed germinating, well they empty my seed feeder in just a few days so no problem there either.

I do take all feeders apart periodically to give them a good clean. I need to get a new seed feeder because the squirrels have almost destroyed the present one.

Post by **LovelyLadyLux** » Mon Mar 21, 2016 4:49 pm

Good to know the seed doesn't get wet. Haven't seen anybody at the feeder yet this morning but hopefully it'll soon be attracting quite a few and it will empty in sufficient time that rain etc isn't going to really bother it.

Granted it is still relatively out in the open. Hopefully this summer the pieris I planted last year will double in size which will start give a sense to the birds of having some foliage around. In another 2 or 3 yrs I think there should be enough bushes and plants up front that they'll feel quite comfortable coming this way. BUT will see how it all goes. I'm hoping they'll like coming to the feeder enough to over come any hesitation AND there are definitely lots of huge trees out back.

Post by **Grandad** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 7:14 pm

Well, I finished the camera mount and have fixed in in a semi permanent position just belpw the sentry light. I put it here because I have had some good results with the sentry light illumination which is then in colour. Although a bit rough and ready, the mount has full pan and tilt function so I can easilly adjust its focus. It has a laser which helps to point exactly where I want the camera to be focusing. Hopefully I will have something to show before too long. Fingers crossed

I put a little roof over it to minimise it getting wet when it rains although it is waterproof against normal rainfall but I wanted to keep the lens dry.

Post by **Horus** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 1:13 pm

Complete with wingnut adjustments I see Grandad

Post by **Grandad** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 2:02 pm

Horus wrote:Complete with wingnut adjustments I see Grandad

Yes H, full pan and tilt

Post by **LovelyLadyLux** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 5:22 pm

Looking good Grandad!

Not a bird in sight at the feeder today - yet.

Post by **Kiya** » Thu Mar 24, 2016 9:54 am

You've done a good job there Grandad

Post by **Grandad** » Thu Mar 24, 2016 10:40 am

Have got some good clips that I will edit and post shortly.

March Wildlife Challenge 2016

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