The 2019 nest box survey kicked off today with Robin doing sterling work up the ladder. Mike's coloured wool experiment came up trumps showing that blue tits definitely prefer red wool over black for their nest lining.
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Highlights - 64 different species, 197 moths counted (plus approx 600 water veneer). Most common species - Mottled Rustic, Uncertain, The Dun-bar. See full results in attached spreadsheet. 
Some photos from this morning, examining and recording the moths caught overnight in the trap which was set up in John & Pip's garden. Really interesting and good fun!  
 During today's work party several members took an hour to take part in the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. Ian Hydon lead the group and despite poor light the apprentice twitchers made some excellent sightings including nuthatch, tree creeper and even a buzzard!  The 2017/19 nest box survey is well under way now with Mike, Malcolm, Sheila and Ian manning the ladder this morning. Here are some photos that Ian took showing some of the boxes and their contents.  A blue tit nest with two unhatched eggs.  A nest constructed of moss, bit of wool, string and tennis ball fluff.  A box used by nuthatches with the entrance hole reduced in size by the birds using a mud and saliva "cement" mix.
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AuthorMike Saynor, Colin Melhuish - HCCV Joint Co-ordinators Archives
October 2021
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