The Week

 

So far it has been quite a busy one, I’m trying to keep on top of the Little Owl Boxes in the never-ending saga against Grey Squirrell occupancy, for want of better words they are persistent, destructive little buggers. Not content with having a chew of the entrance hole, the little so and so’s chewed into the internal ledge inside as well.

I suppose it is to be expected, any largish box is fair game and a readymade Drey, just waiting to be filled up with leaves/twigs.

I cleaned out one Little Box last Sunday, this box produced 2 young Owls which we ringed on June 7th this year, however after this it seems the Squirrels took over.

On opening the box, it was wall to wall drey material so turfed this out, it’s now about persistence and checking the box regularly, if they fill it up again, keep turfing them out until they give it up as a bad idea.

After this I checked a Kestrel box, despite rarely seeing any activity in it, something had been using it considerably with lots of guano inside. Possibly Stock Dove but having never seen them in it, I would suspect not. With a juvenile Starling wing in the corner, I would suspect a Little Owl is possibly using it.

I also checked a 2nd Little Owl box during the week, again chewed and yet another Dray, same process, out it came.

Also caught up with a Tit box that had come loose, this had also succumbed to the attentions of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, so very likely the young were taken. I put a metal hole on it, just about covered it so hopefully it will do the trick and protect the young.

                                                                          Drey

                                                                 

                                                        Kestrel Box - occupancy/guano

                                                                    Little Owl Box

                                                                Tit Box - ready to fall

                                                                      Great Spot

                                                        Hopefully do the trick

                                                   Back up

                                             Another Little Owl box, drey turfed out

Another new Peregrine site, featured earlier, has come to light and this week I was lucky enough to place a Nest Tray on Tuesday. They tried to breed this year, but sadly the eggs rolled, the tray has been placed pretty early, so hopefully it will do the trick.

It’s got a roof overhang, so there protected from the weather, fingers crossed.

                                                                Tray and Substrate

                          Ready and waiting - fingers crossed - young even have perching blocks.

                                                 Another site I visited, always watching.