Busy playing with video today. I had ordered an EzCap USB Video Grabber which arrived today. I have tried several capture devices over the past few years and have been disappointed with them all. In fact they were abject failures. What would this one be like? I had seen good user reviews and the suppliers seem to give excellent backup where needed. It imports composite video with stereo sound or SVideo. Output is USB2 including sound so no connection has to be made to the sound card. I bought it from t2direct Ltd.. (Look under Technology and Gadgets)
Instructions were clear. The driver and the software (ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD v2) installed easily and all worked first time. A good start. The software can import to an mpg file or create VCDs or DVDs. Files can be edited and manipulated so it is quite a nice package. The software has shown itself to be slightly flaky but that might be down to operator error. When working it does a good job.
Here are a couple of video files made while I was playing with the software to get used to it.
First an import from my Hitachi DVDCam. This is a little bit I shot this morning and shows one Blue Tit feeding another. They both look like adults to me. If not then the juvenile is well developed for the time of year. The video has been slowed down to one third speed so the action can be seen more easily.
The second bit of video is an import straight from my security camera DVD recorder and is a bit of Hoggy-cam from a couple of nights ago. Previously I had to write it to a memory card and then get the supplied software to extract the one camera I wanted. Then it had to be changed to another format so I could edit it. A real nightmare which took forever. Now - all done in a couple of easy processes in the one piece of software.
This means I will probably be bombarding everyone with lots of video until the novelty wears off! Also it means that I can record Hoggy-cam direct in real time which might improve the quality. We shall see.........
There was only a short appearance by one Hedgehog on hoggy-cam last night. As the days are lengthening so the Hedgehog tends to arrive a bit later each night. When it came to our bedtime I was sure that it had gone elsewhere and that the alternating cycle of 2 then 1 appearing had been broken.
As soon as Bobby was out of the back door he sniffed the air and listened intently. After a few seconds he was off investigating the area under the bird feeders.
In a very short time he found what he had been seeking and there they were, not one but both Hedgehogs.
I think he was trying to work out which end was the head end, or maybe which end has less spikes. As before the small Hedgehog soon scuttled off at a fair rate of knots and the large one stayed put. So far I have not seen either of them curl up into a ball. Bobby is very good and leaves them alone as soon as he is called away. We toured the front garden as usual and by the time we returned to the back garden both Hedgehogs had disappeared.
I was pottering round the garden this morning checking to see how much the ground was cracking with so little rain when I just happened to spot a hole surrounded by loose earth.
I though to myself - I wonder if I have found the nest site of a miner bee. As it was sunny though cool in the strong breeze I wrapped up well, took a folding chair and the camera and sat and watched. After half an hour I gave up and went for a much needed cuppa. Later I took a tripod and set the camera up and sat in wait. After about five minutes I noticed a slight movement in the hole. Where I had been expecting to see a bee arriving I got just the opposite. Very cautiously the bee crept out of its hole and then flew off at full speed.
The wait had been worthwhile. Later in the day I spent ages trying to get more photos, preferably of it arriving, but nearly three quarters of an hours watching produced zilch. I had had enough for now. I don't think I would have the patience to become a professional nature photographer.
There is some interesting information about mining bees on the Kendall Bioresearch page dealing with solitary bees. Interesting to find that mining bees do not live very long and that the nest hole is open for only a few short weeks so I was lucky to be able to photograph one in use.
Another reason for taking the chair out was the bee hole was just where I needed to be to watch any birds which used the pond waterfall for bathing. I think my presence put many off the idea but did see a Sparrow come for a drink and a male Blackbird have a bath and then sit for ages in the Sun drying out.
I can just reach ....
I'm going to hide behind this fern ....
Ah. That feels better ....
Last night there was the usual Hedgehog visit - jut one this time. They seem to be alternating. Every night the large one comes but every other night so far it has been joined by the smaller one.
I took some photos of the monitor in the living room so the pictures are not fantastic.
As usual I thought hoggy had gone but when Bobby went out at bedtime he made a beeline down the garden - and yes, there was the Hedgehog. Going through to the front garden I saw the Moon was occasionally being hidden by a line of dark clouds so I though I would try a few shots. I think this is the best of the bunch.
A while ago I had tried out the idea of using a large, shallow plastic tray as a bird bath. Seemed a good idea at the time but the birds thought otherwise. Maybe a black tray made it difficult for them to judge the depth of the water.
Looking round the garden I found another bird bath I had forgotten all about as, at one time, I had use the upright part as a post to support a video camera. This bath is cast concrete and is made to look like a tree stump. The bath part is quite shallow. I purchased it many years ago from Greenways, a fairly local family business who, at one time were very well known for their excellent garden ornaments but sadly have now closed down.
I installed the newly found bird bath near the bird feeders and it was an immediate success.
This one is in use on and off all day, especially by the Starlings.
Go on - Splash it all Over
Oi - Do you let people photo you when you're bathing?
Another job done - the old concrete one stays.
Hedgehog Update:
First the large Hedgehog visited last night. It left after a short while but was soon back this time joined by the smaller one. As before they both ate quietly for a while and the the jousting started again. By bedtime I thought they had moved on to pastures new but Bobby knew they were around as soon as he went out the back door. He had to go and investigate what they were up to. I had put out a mixture of peanut pieces and some bits from a tin of Chicken and Beef dog food. The dog food was being ignored, except by Bobby!
Thanks: Thanks to Greenfingers and ShySongbird who both identified my little 'weed' as Lady's Smock (Cardamine pratense).
I have taken Greenfingers' advice and used some leaves to propagate so I can plant some in a more appropriate position in the garden and see if they will attract yellow tip butterflies in the future.
Last night the large Hedgehog visited by itself. That makes two nights solo and two nights as a pair on alternating nights. At last I am pleased with the camera position. Moving it closer means the subject is larger and the IR lighting is stronger so the picture is a bit brighter. For now I will leave well alone.
During the time I watched mr(s) Hedgehog it visited the feeding area three times and for the first time I saw it drink the water I had put out. Some people think that milk is what needs to be given but this is most definitely a NO NO. Hedgehogs cannot digest milk. It upsets their system and can kill them. Water is all they need.
I had put some crushed peanuts (not salted) out a bit earlier than usual as I wanted to watch a TV programme but ended up having to chase away a pair of Magpies who decided to dive in and help themselves as it was still light. Soon after dusk the large Hedgehog turned up and spent nearly three quarters of an hour on and off on the paved area under the bird feeders. In fact towards the end I turned the TV off and watched hoggy-vision as it was definitely more interesting.
Tonight I will put out a bit of Bobby's tinned meat, finely chopped as Hedgehogs only have little teeth. I was going to use some corned beef but this is another no, no because of the salt content.
Here is the video of hoggy's final visit last night.
At last my Bluebells are in bloom. There have been three clumps of them in my back garden for over thirty years and each year they spread a little and brighten up an area which is otherwise grass and in the shade for most of the day.
Also in bloom is a favourite of mine, a succulent which grows with a mixture of Alpine plants in a glazed bowl. In fact I picked up two of these bowls in a sale at my local garden centre a few years ago and every year they are a delight.
A few night ago when I took the 350D out Hedgehog hunting I took this photo of part of my front garden. Some years ago I gravelled over all the front as the amount of mowing front and back was getting too much for me. It is far from bare though as I planted low growing evergreens and several dwarf trees. It has taken a few years for them to mature but now I am quite satisfied with the result. In the middle is a raised bed so as to break up the expanse of level ground. Of course I added one of my favourite solar powered lanterns as I like to see a bit of movement and colour at night and the flicker of the artificial flame does just that.
Another favourite is an Acer with deep red leaves which have deep divisions. This grows in a tub to keep the size down and I think it is now making a lovely weeping shape.
Finally an unknown weed. I hadn't the heart to pull up this plant. I say weed as I am going by the definition that a weed is a self seeded plant growing in the wrong place. The little flowers are too pretty to throw out so I will have to try to move it somewhere it can grow where it won't get mown. At the moment it is in the edge of the lawn.
What a miserable morning yesterday. Just started to rain as we got back from the morning walk and it continued until just after midday. Not heavy rain, just enough to gently water the garden. It needed it as large cracks were appearing in some areas. Once the rain had stopped I set about changing the camera I had used to observe the Hedgehogs. After a bit of experimenting I ended up using a black an white one with built in infra red lighting. The cover says colour but the camera is b/w. Also I took the opportunity to mount it closer to the place where the Hedgehogs have been appearing.
If you want to see the results then read on or scroll down.
In the garden the birds have been grabbing food as though it is going out of fashion. Several times I have seen blackbirds with beaks filled with grubs. Often they will put the whole lot down while they get another tasty morsel and then pick all the originals up again.
How many grubs can you get in one beak - there are still a couple to pick up.
It is not often I see both Blue Tits at the same feeder. Here the one at the back is holding a Sunflower heart with both feet and pecking pieces off.
As usual the Starlings cause mayhem continually barging in. Here a couple are changing over.
Another has decided it is bath time. Yes - that is my nursery pond but who am I to argue with a determined Starling. BTW I was right about the Frog Spawn. It was not viable and not one started to develop. Oh well, better luck next year.
Nobody can convince me that House Sparrow numbers are decreasing but why, with a large area of lawn to choose from, so many feed in such a small space I'll never know. There were more out of shot.
In the pond the Common Newts continue to make an appearance from time to time. The best time seems to be around midday.
Finally back to the Hedgehogs. For a while I thought there would be no appearance last night but suddenly two appeared together. At first they seemed to be feeding quite happily together but before too long a Hedgehog jousting match started. It was all one sided as the larger hog kept pushing the smaller one away from the food. The small one was not to be put off though and kept returning. This went on for well over fifteen minutes. In fact it only stopped when I went out to take a couple of still photos.
This time I managed to get a face. After a couple of shots the little hog ran off and the large one disappeared soon after that. Hopefully here is a piece of video. This is the first time I have used YouTube as Flickr have a limit of 90 seconds for video files. I can't work out whether the smaller hog is younger or appears so much thinner because the larger one stops it from eating. In that case why do they appear together? A bit of a puzzle at the moment.
This morning I have moved the camera even closer so it is now about 3 to 4 ft away. I want to see what these two are really up to.
Yesterday I moved the video camera which was monitoring the outside of the nest boxes as there has been no activity in either of them for weeks. If the hedgehogs are investigating the seeds which the birds scatter from the feeders I thought I would put the camera where I could see when they arrive. At dusk I scattered some well ground peanuts (bird feeder type. not human salted type) and put out a bowl of water. Soon after 9pm there was some activity. A single large hedgehog had arrived and seemed to be tucking in to the peanuts so I started the recorder.
Here is a piece of the recording - very grey and shadowy as it suffered from the various processes getting it from the PVR to the PC and then to Flickr and it wasn't a great piece of video to start with. I will have to see about improving the lighting. The hedgehog is right in the centre of the frame.
If you are thinking of putting out some food for hedgehogs and are not sure what to use then have a look at the Epping Forest site and choose Diet from the Navigation list.
P.S. If anyone knows of a good composite video to USB input device for the PC please let me know. I have tried a few over the years but have yet to find one which is reliable.
