This is the piece of video I took the other day of a pair of frogs seemingly in a mating clinch. The smaller greyish one is easier to make out in the second half of the clip and it is possible to make out a front leg wrapped round the larger frog's belly. Bobby can be heard asking if there are any other dogs about.
It has been interesting to be able to watch the outside of the Blue Tit nestbox as well as the inside. The sound is a bit hit and miss as I was trying a different microphone nearer the box. To two top scenes are the main nestbox and the lower right is the interior of a different box. This time it is not Bobby barking.
Just the outside camera this time. One Blue Tit clears some dead grass from the entrance and enters the box. A little later a second pokes it head in and immediately flies away. The second bird returns and again flies away when the first leaves the box.
The question is - are these rivals or a mating pair. My money is on the latter.
The bird has been seen several times visiting and inspecting the outside of the box.
Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you.
I like the idea of a camera inside the nest box as well as one recording outside. I hope your cold weather has really gone!
ReplyDeleteHi again John, hard to believe that frogs are out and about just now! Great captures there :-)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant nestbox video too John! Love the channel system. Guessing you’ve got some sort of movement capture programme there. I’d agree with you. Based on the rival action I’ve seen myself I think this is a pair. Look forward to seeing more.
We added an outside floor to our 2nd box last weekend. No captures inside yet… although mine is based purely on me having the PC on at the time and watching live. The other day I heard through the speakers there was someone about.
Yesterday around lunchtime I put my video camera outside and two outside inspections were recorded. Neither went inside though. I was hoping Great tits would be interested but, was again, it was Blue tits. It’s a start though. The birds have discovered it :-D
Hello Mick. No chance of the cold weather going yet. Highs of +5C and lows of -5C at the moment.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting to be able to watch inside and outside the box.
Hello Shirl. I think the frogs were fooled by one day's slightly higher temperatures and sunshine. Not seen them again.
ReplyDeleteI picked up a small 4 channel digital video recorder with a built in 7 inch LCD screen for peanuts on eBay. The only disadvantage with it is it doesn't record sound so those clips with sound are recorded live through the PC. Yes the DVR does have movement detection so can record automatically. There has been a lot of activity in and around the box again this morning. Often just pecking at the entrance hole from outside.
I was wondering whether to enlarge the hole on the second box so it would be suitable for Great Tits as there are several in the area.
Great that there is interest in your nestbox. Look forward to some video of the activity.
Well at least the frogs and the Blue Tits must think Spring is on the way, I look forward to updates.
ReplyDeleteWe had snow again all day yesterday although it didn't stay around long but we have more forecast for early next week!
By the way, it was nice to hear Bobby putting his twopennies worth in :)
Super footage of the Blue Tits inspecting the box. Definitely a pair John.
ReplyDeleteI've also noted some positive activity around a box at the bottom of the garden so we can both hope for positive nesting before long. FAB.
Hello Jan. I hope the frogs and the Blue Tits are correct. It feels as though this cold weather is going on for ever. Just the occasional snow shower here but the earth is frozen solid this morning. Still several birds singing though.
ReplyDeleteThank you Frank. I do hope the Blue Tits make it all the way with nest building this year as they abandoned it part built last year. Lots of comings and goings yesterday but only to peck at the hole. Look forward to hearing about your Blue Tit activity.
ReplyDeleteOK, I'm a day late and tired but glad I caught up with your Friday.
ReplyDeleteHello Adrian. No problem. I don't charge any extra for stragglers as I am a founder member of that clan myself ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm late, too; but am so glad I didn't miss your videos, John. The frog video is superb and I really like being able to see the inside and outside of the nest box simultaneously. Great job all around! Now I have the treat of reading 2 of your posts back to back as I catch up on what I have missed.
ReplyDeletecheers,
Wilma
Hello Wilma. It was nice and sunny when I videoed the frogs which helped a lot.
ReplyDeleteIt has made an interesting addition to be able to watch the birds arrive and leave the nest. If they do eventually produce a brood then we should be able to see them fledge but all I can see this morning is more snow :(