Another scorcher of a day.
A day spent working on the camera wiring. More surprises. Who would have thought the pond camera cable would be chewed. Thankfully I was able to cut and rejoin using amalgamated tape and hey presto it burst into life.
One of the bird boxes was packed full of spider webbing. Removed some but not all as spotted the spider still using the box. Upshot of the day is all eight cameras are now working to the hide monitor. Switch on will be on Tuesday as need to tweak with a couple of cameras and re-position one. Good news though, interestingly my problems has been nothing to do with damp but chewed cable. Once project is complete all the cable will be above ground and encapsulated in hosepipe with the exception of the three cables across the lawn. These will be buried.
Managed to find time for a spot of pond dipping this afternoon, good to see plenty of nymphs, 13 in total today.
Enjoyed another bbq tonight and a bit of bat detecting.
Picture 1 - Pond camera showing chewed wire.
" 2 - Sunflower and bee.
" 3 & 4 - Spider cam.
" 5 - Pond dipping.
" 6 - Bat detecting.
" 7 & 8 - Evening bbq.
Hot and sunny all day.
Day spent rewiring the swift box and squirrel drey. The drey was a surprise as although aware twigs and soft material had been taken in during the Spring I had also noticed the squirrel taking a load out and moving to the leilandi tree. In the box was a very cosy set up and could not destroy such workmanship. Have left as is but with a workable camera that will now give me images on what is going on. Exciting days/months ahead I think.
Beggars belief re the swift box. Cable was in the guttering from box to monitor and the cable had been chewed. Can only assume the squirrel had something to do with this.
On switching on with new cable it was clear a bird had used the box but my guess a bird other than the swift.
Another day tomorrow working on the wiring and hopefully will have 16 in operation.
Enjoyed a bbq tonight, staying out until late sitting around the fire. Nice.
Picture 1 - Moth in the trap last night.
" 2 - Showing cosy habitat re the squirrel.
" 3 - Showing drey without the front of the box.
" 4 - Squirrel box all wired up and secure.
Hot and sunny all day.
Morning taken up with a chap who hopefully can help with blinds for the conservatory/observatory. Never known these rooms to be so hot and glaring.
Rest of the day I started to sort out cables, ladder etc ready for the start tomorrow in replacing the cables to the respective cameras. First one will be the swift box.
Very warm, touching hot at times.
Day spent on the hide rewire project. Somewhat apparent now the squirrel is to blame for 99% of my issues with so many wires chewed. Once this part of the project is complete I will use conduit to secure wiring. Comes expensive otherwise.
Managed six out of the eight so hopefully will have the two remaining working tomorrow then it will be two more to sort in the observatory.
Was a hard day but well worth the effort, a mouse has already visited mouse cam.
Good to see a young mouse in spider cave this morning, found its way into a peanut bag.
Pictures 1 & 6 - Mouse in spider cave.
" 2 - Bird box cam.
" 3 - Hedgehog cam.
" 4 - Mouse cam (visited tonight).
" 5 - Mint moth on a sunflower leaf.
" 7 - Moth on garden table this morning.
A very warm day.
Morning - Morrison's weekly shop.
Afternoon - Ikea visit for lampshades and pillows, came away with nothing. Do humans really
enjoy this type of mayhem shopping. Never again for me.
Nuff said about today.
A very warm day, a little chilly tonight.
A day spent on the monitoring system. Not such a good day, mostly ladder work and not 100% successful. Two further cameras now working but two I had working yesterday have now stopped working. I lost the will to live earlier, best I sleep on it before stressing myself out anymore.
Enough said tonight.
Picture of a damselfly in the observatory tonight.
Hot day.
Enjoyed today entertaining Nigel and Lyn to lunch and afternoon tea. Very relaxing spending much of the day discussing where one might visit to celebrate a rather large birthday number. Hugh Hefner's Bunny Ranch was all I could come up with!
The great news of the day however was checking the monitor this morning and seeing a hedgehog asleep, what a result, hope it stays.
A lot talked about at the Fobney Nature Reserve meeting tonight. Not been a good year for moths, dragonflies etc due to the wet conditions during the Spring and early Summer. On a positive note the conditions were ideal for wild flowers with still a good showing on the reserve at the moment.
Picture 1 - Moth on the oak tree.
" 2 - Hog in the box.
