tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86269599709786635762024-03-19T03:15:29.376+00:00MIDMARSH JOTTINGSMidmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.comBlogger3171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-88478160019104727422024-03-17T08:47:00.000+00:002024-03-17T08:47:29.307+00:00Squabbling StarlingsI can guarantee a noisy session when a group of Starlings descend on the seed feeders.
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I always think of them as a brat pack, like little children who only what what someone else has.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-86319320921606140352024-03-14T11:42:00.000+00:002024-03-14T11:42:26.233+00:00A Brief LookThis morning saw the first bit of interest being shown in the new camera nestbox.
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I took a still shot from the video as the Blue Tit stayed only for a few seconds.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-85083697571711760522024-03-12T09:21:00.003+00:002024-03-12T09:21:21.891+00:00Hungry HedgehogAfter spotting a Hedgehog a few nights ago I placed some food in the Hedgehog house hoping it would return. It needs a few really good meals to put back the weight lost during the long Winter hibernation period.. Delighted to see it came again this morning:
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There was dried Hedgehog bites and dried mealworms to choose from. As in the past the mealworms were favourite.
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No recent sightings of the female Blackcap. She visited the bird feeder for three mornings and then disappeared. I understand that some are resident in the UK and some migrate here at this time of year. Maybe she was an early visitor replenishing her energy before moving further inland. I live about 4 miles inland from the coast.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-79268765040697674972024-03-07T08:28:00.000+00:002024-03-07T08:28:26.192+00:00New NestboxMy old bird nestbox with a DIY camera setup was getting past it use by date. As the Blue Tits have started house hunting I decided to replace it with a Birdfy Nestbox which has two cameras:
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The collage shows the nestbox in the bottom view, with a solar panel mounted above the shed. Top left is the view from the internal camera. Top right is the view from the external camera which monitors any birds coming and going. Now I wait while the birds get used to seeing a new object and then hope someone takes an interest in occupying it.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-24406763213405205272024-03-06T09:02:00.000+00:002024-03-06T09:02:21.820+00:00Hungry BlackcapThe female Blackcap returned this morning. Obviously very hungry and more confident using the Birdfy feeder.
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I wonder whether a male will also turn up one day.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-4611378342343659962024-03-05T10:29:00.001+00:002024-03-05T10:29:50.959+00:00Female Blackcap?The feeder is working well in its new location. Most birds only land for a few seconds as they are probably still wary of a new feeder. This morning I was pleased to spot what I believe was a female Blackcap. They have visited the garden a few times in past years.
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The video is slowed to half speed. If anyone can confirm an identification that would help a lot. The second bird, a Blue Tit, has become a regular visitor already.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-89988324206855436012024-03-04T08:01:00.000+00:002024-03-04T08:01:07.343+00:00Hedgehog AwakesI was more than a tad surprised when I made my usual daily check for any activity in the Hedgehog house. On one of the coldest nights recently there was one investigating the house.
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Yesterday I finally made my mind up to move the Birdfy Bamboo feeder to the back garden.
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In its original position there were only three visitors - Male and female Blackbirds and a Robin. That confirmed my decision to move it to a position where a greater variety of birds are used to feeding.
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The first to make use of the feeder in its new location was - the Blackbird.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-20305317207675436952024-02-29T09:20:00.001+00:002024-02-29T10:00:32.037+00:00The First VisitorThe camera feeder is in rather an out of the way position but it took less than two hours for the first brave visitor to inspect it. What was it? Just think which common garden bird is always close by when there is anything happening when you are gardening. The Robin.
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It was very cautious at first but as the only visitor so far it now has its own private source of food. I am seriously thinking about moving the feeder to near the bottom of the garden. There is plenty of bird activity there plus lots of trees and bushes as safe places for them.
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A Blackbird has finally found the feeder. Things are looking up.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-87534811177096480872024-02-28T11:59:00.001+00:002024-02-28T12:26:39.238+00:00Bamboo Camera Bird FeederThis is the camera which took the photo of me relaxing yesterday.
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It comes with the Birdfy Camera Bamboo Bird Feeder.
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It is not the cheapest of camera feeders. Built of sturdy (and heavy) Bamboo wood it has two containers so you can give the birds a choice of food. The camera has a built in battery which is kept charged by the solar panel which comes with it.
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My choice of fixing position was not ideal but it was the best place to let it connect to my router as it automatically uploads 20 second movies each time it detects a movement. These are stored for up to 30 days on the Birdfy server. They can be accessed using the Birdfy app which also has access to live view watching. Uploaded clips can be downloaded to the mobile phone.
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A view of the feeder. The small black thing, top left, is the solar panel. I use the large solar panel to charge a small power bank.
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Tomorrow I will show some video of its first birdy visitor.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-5982292414007849792024-02-27T14:48:00.001+00:002024-02-27T14:49:36.177+00:00The Blogger in His Natural EnvironmentTaking it easy surrounded by clutter ...
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Some of the clutter is from a new camera bird feeder. I was testing the camera indoors and finding my way round the app which goes with it. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.
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More about the feeder soon along with it's first brave visitor. Can you guess what it was? Tell you soon.
Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-18551136682408948712023-12-23T20:26:00.001+00:002023-12-23T20:29:51.488+00:00Red Sky at Night ....... hopefully means good weather tomorrow.
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A few shots of the Sunset this evening:
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No tinkering - all exactly as taken by my trusty old Nikon Coolpix S9050Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-17149227853929757682023-12-12T08:49:00.000+00:002023-12-12T08:49:14.698+00:00ChristmasA quick Christmas greeting:
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Not a lot going on here at the moment. Mainly dodging rain showers and listening to audio books. Hard to believe this is normally a fairly dry part of the country. Anyway a new coal / flame effect gas fire is keeping this room cosy and a fibre optic canvas picture, used in the video, hanging on the chimney breast cheers up the room. Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-11567961005292082292023-10-08T11:49:00.001+01:002023-10-08T11:53:34.165+01:00One For RonMany years ago when cigarette smoking was a common activity I held out my pack to a friend so he could take one. He took two. One he lit and the other he put behind his ear.<br />
"One for Ron." he says.<br />
"Ron?" I queried.<br />
"Yes," says he. "For later on.".
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I was reminded of that as I watched a Grey Squirrel helping itself to some peanuts I had place in a dish on top of the Hedgehog House.
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Very much an example of 'One for Ron" as it ate some and buried many in the grass to, hopefully, find again 'later on'. (No sound from this camera)Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-79527291152729430392023-07-28T15:31:00.000+01:002023-07-28T15:31:26.715+01:00Pond LilyJust a brief post today. I noticed a flower on a lily in my raised pond. Took a photo and then ...
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... decided to 'colour pop' the photo to make it stand out against a greyed out background.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-26380926903529289502023-07-20T20:03:00.001+01:002023-07-21T14:32:23.534+01:00Suns All RoundFor once, here anyway, we have had Sunshine on and off all day and the temperature actually reached the dizzying height of 20C. Probably nearly warm enough for the BBC to show in a scary red on their new, let's scare the masses, temperature colour scheme. Another Sun which appeared was in the shape of ...
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... this Hoverfly (<i>Helophilus pendulus</i>) also known as a Sun Fly. There were other flying creatures around but the most abundant, and irritating, were scores of what my mother used to call thunder flies (thrips). They may be only 2mm long and 1mm thick but when they land and crawl about on the skin in their dozens it feels very itchy to say the least. Fortunately they are harmless to humans, just very irritating.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-55918590832672289302023-07-03T12:31:00.000+01:002023-07-03T12:31:11.703+01:00Thieving MagpieI happened to spot this video capture this morning. I was curious as to what it was doing.
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In the past I have seen them bury the occasional peanut in the lawn. This is first time I have been able to work out how and why some food suddenly goes missing from the bird table.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-52394736038622006212023-06-08T19:12:00.003+01:002023-06-08T20:35:59.402+01:00Fox VisitorWow - best part of a month since I last wrote anything. Not that there has been much of real interest to inspire me until now. I was idly checking through last night's video captures when I spotted this fleeting visit:
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Not sure whether its coat shows signs of mange or whether it is wet for some reason. On checking my other cameras I see it explored most of the garden. The Hedgehog had been in the Hedgehog House but had left about five minutes before the Fox arrived.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-52399611427618390362023-05-13T14:49:00.000+01:002023-05-13T14:49:09.127+01:00Three is a Crowd ...... when it comes to Hedgehogs. Checking this morning's video recordings I was surprised to see three Hedgehogs visited the feeding station. First there were two which were wary of each other. The third visitor was very forceful in making sure it would be the next to enter for a free breakfast.
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Unfortunately this video camera stopped recording sound some months ago. It looks as though all were safe and healthy in spite of the battle. It is a good job they have a thick coat of spines.
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I have been keeping a watch on the camera nest box but the Blue Tits seem to have chosen somewhere else to nest this year.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-85723048551902784112023-04-29T09:17:00.000+01:002023-04-29T09:17:18.203+01:00Rook Raids Seed FeederSeveral times I found the lid on the seed feeder had been opened. It shouldn't have been gusty winds as it has a magnetic catch. I thought it may have been a squirrel though I haven't seen one in the garden for over a year. This morning I decided to check the camera recordings .....
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I should have known that a corvid would have the intelligence to work out how to open the lid - as you can see with this Rook.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-79888106919557798372023-04-19T14:41:00.000+01:002023-04-19T14:41:08.695+01:00More Pocket LoveSix weks ago I showed the few flowers which had been produced on last years growth. Now this years mature growth is showing what a Dendrobium hybrid Pocket Love orchid can really look like when in flower.
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Only just viewable in the first photo - on the left hand side of the plant - there are two new growths which, with good luck, should both produce flowers. Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-1600412791783921772023-04-04T15:31:00.000+01:002023-04-04T15:31:23.504+01:00Oncidium croesus OrchidI knew I obtained this miniature orchid some time ago but was surprised to find it was bought five years ago. It has taken until this year for it to finally produce some flowers. As I appear to have found the right conditions for growth it should now flower every year.
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This orchid is a native species to Brazil, growing at elevations of 400 to 600 metres above sea level.
Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-30066656145622975592023-04-01T15:17:00.002+01:002023-04-01T15:17:28.123+01:00Hedgehog in a HurryA quick movement on the monitor caught my intention. The animal was moving so fast I thought it may have been a rat. On checking the video recordings I could see it was my Hedgehog visitor rushing to check whether there was any bird food worth eating and then rushing off to the back of the garden.
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The times shown by the clocks are set differently. The first in on GMT and the second on BST.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-45521026582716014212023-03-27T12:25:00.002+01:002023-03-27T12:26:24.342+01:00Thirsty HedgehogLast night my regular visitor arrived just before it got dark (no sound on this video):
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That was the first of several visits to the hedgehog house to feed during the night.Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-25377383576980763502023-03-25T09:59:00.003+00:002023-03-25T15:49:56.505+00:00Pitcher PollenThe second flower on the pitcher plant has now fully opened.
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In the process a couple of the strands bearing pollen fell off. I placed them under my LCD microscope to try taking some closer shots.
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The ruler (cm / mm markings) shows how small they are:
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The resolution is reasonable, though as expected, the depth of field in shallow:
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Those tiny grains of pollen are really minute.
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In case you don't remember the LCD microscope I use .......
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It works from 5V, has a memory card which can store photographs and video and connects to a PC / laptop so the card content can be copied across.
Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626959970978663576.post-80914908225888490462023-03-24T14:10:00.001+00:002023-03-24T14:19:13.416+00:00Dog WalkerI took the 1200D full spectrum and R72 IR filter for another walkabout. This time through the back of the churchyard and then across the street to Old Mill Lane. I took lots of photographs but for now here is the one I personally like best.
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I have always liked this view with the trees standing out against their surroundings. I happened to take this shot just as a dog walker and his three dogs were approaching them. That, for me, put the finishing touch to the composition. I cropped out some of the insipid looking sky.
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I case you were wondering - no it hasn't been snowing. The usual practice when taking photographs with an IR filter is to photo an area of grass and set the camera to use that as a reference for white balance. Hence grass and similar shows up as white.
Midmarsh Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10980417659811194899noreply@blogger.com0