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Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page of the Horses, taken by Marie when she and Margaret stayed at Denbury.

It is blowing up very hard and raining cats and dogs tonight. The forecast looks that it may well get a lot worse over night. The wind is quite strong on the Farm House level in the Valley, but gale force in the tops of the trees and in the area that the main Badger camera is positioned as you can see by the way that it is shaking the camera pole. I should think that there will be fallen trees in the Woods in the morning.

October and November have been very wet this year. Yesterday we started to get the Horses in of at night. I reckon that they will be in for the all day tomorrow. Last year we managed to keep them out until just before Christmas but unless this wet spell stops we will have to keep them off of the grass to stop them from poaching the ground.

It was raining so heavy at about 4.30pm this afternoon that Dennis decided half way through following someone that he would take shelter. At about that time he is put into his chicken house with the Chickens for the night. But he could not be found. To be honest I thought that a Fox had got him. Normally when Dennis is called he answers back. He either didn’t answer or the strong wind caused us not to hear him. After a good 45 minutes he was found where he never goes normally. If he had not been found there was a very good chance a Fox would have got him over night.

As Vicky told you last night on the Forum, the Northern Light are not able to be seen from everywhere in Iceland. I phoned the Hotel again this afternoon as it looked as if the camera was not working. It was working but unfortunately the problem was a low connection speed. I was told in the conversation that there is a good chance that there will be a lot of activity from the 18th until the 29th of November. Just got to hope for good weather.

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Starting from number one there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

Here are some more photos from our holiday at Denbury.

Dennis; Julia

Silkies; Julia

Silkies; Julia

Looking across the River Exe estuary from Starcross to Exmouth, just before we caught the ferry; Julia

Sea birds – are they Terns? Julia

We collected the Rhea this afternoon. They look lost in the large paddock that we have made secure for them. I will put them on a webcam tomorrow.

Most of what I asked The Ranga Hotel to do has been done. The camera only needs to be put a bit higher so that at least two thirds of the sky can be seen. I will ask for that to be done. Bjorn the Hotel Managers has told me that there have been at least two Aurora since the camera started working.

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Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

Keep checking the adds. It does help.

On a walk on the common this afternoon, plenty of insects buzzing about including –

Gatekeeper butterfly – aka Hedge Brown. Jill, Epping

Comma butterfly. Jill, Epping

Painted Lady butterfly. Jill, Epping

Bee on bramble flowers. Jill, Epping

Small cricket. Jill, Epping

Haven’t really got a lot to tell for today. I had hoped a few of you may have had a few different regional Chicken words. Although the Forum has been very quite.

I did send the new camera to Peter in Indian River Bay Delaware today, so that next year we can get a really good Osprey Nest webcam from the USA. I have sent a pan, tilt and 18x zoom camera. As the nest is lower than the top of Peters house and only at the most a 150 feet the camera will look right into every part of the nest. Peter tells me that there are a lot of other wildlife in the vicinity. Including the Bold and Brown Eagles. We hope to have the new camera working by September.

And just to tease. When I finish the Diary I will be putting together the camera for the new webcam that I am having to keep secret.

I have been trying to get the secret webcam going for a while and have sent a few emails to possible people in the location. I have now been contacted by another person about the secret webcam in a slightly different location. There is also in the location a White Tailed Eagle that does at times nest.

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Starting from number one there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

ALL TAKEN IN DORSET A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO

TALL SHIP IN WEYMOUTH HARBOUR. LYNNE

THE QUEEN CAME TO VISIT WHILE WE WERE THERE THIS WAS WHAT SHE ARRIVED IN. LYNNE

VIEW OF WEYMOUTH BAY. LYNNE

THE HARBOUR AT NIGHT TAKEN FROM OUR BALCONY. LYNNE

BOATS IN THE HARBOUR. LYNNE

I managed to find another Swallows nest today. It is in the same Barn as the last one. As long as the camera wires can reach the nest I will trey to set the camera up tomorrow.

Over the past four or five days there have been a lot of Swallows coming under the porch of the Kitchen door. A few time they have even come into the Kitchen. One tried to get out of the kitchen by the closed window and needed our help to get out. The way the Swallow were in and out they must be building a nest. It wasn’t until today that I saw where they were building a nest. It is under the porch roof right above our heads as we enter and leave the kitchen. I not to sure that they will finish the nest with us in and out all of the time. Another problem is that there are a couple of leaks in the roof and it may well wet the nest. If it does look that they are going to finish the nest, if they do I will put a camera up.

I personally am not a lover of Fishing, probably because I am not that good at it although I don’t like the thought of the hook going into the Fish. But last night we decided to have a salad dinner by the Lake with me trying to Fish. By the time our picnic salad got to the lake with all of the fishing equipment there was very little time to have a go at fishing. It was soon time to feed the Badgers and what had I caught. Sweet nothing. Didn’t even get a bite. Just as well I wasn’t fishing for our dinner. Maybe I will try again tonight with some fish and chips. Be just like going to Minehead.

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Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

The Bantams in their new house deciding if they have the courage to come out.

Thornton trying to encourage them.

Thornton wondering in amazement whats that.

The Geese were even more amazed.

The Bantams finally picked up the courage.

I either was to late in taking photographs or didn’t have the camera when we put the Bantams into their new home. The Dogs could not believe their eyes, but by the time I had gone in the Farm House for the camera something else had attracted them. Thornton could not keep his eyes off of the Bantams and sat by the Ark for well over an hour as if he was guarding the Bantams. I missed a great photograph of the Leghorn Chicken inspecting her close relatives and although I got a camera to get a photograph of the Geese being nosey they were walking away as I photographed them.

Thornton may have decided that he has had enough of being a full time Sheep as for the past two nights he has knocked on the door to come in. Once in he make sure that he is in for the night by going down a dead end passage and hiding himself. As he hears us going up for the night he show himself so that he can sleep in the kitchen with the Dogs. We haven’t allowed that until the past two nights just in case the Dogs decide that Thornton would make a good meal but they have all been alright with no noise. In the morning as we come down the stairs the three heads are waiting for us. Last night Thornton didn’t come in until well past 10.pm after the door had been locked. We heard a knocking but have thought that the Dogs had knocked something. Did Thornton protest and bang to let us know he was waiting to come in.

Our Holiday guests have also started to have a morning visit from Thornton again. Since he has been hanging out all day and night with the Sheep he has only occasionally been visiting, but for the past two mornings he has been knocking at the cottage doors in the hope of a biscuit or two.

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Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

I am going to look again but I don’t think that there are any photographs for tomorrows Photo Page.

This is the Tree Creeper that seems to like peanuts.It has been coming everyday since we did the National Bird Survey.Before that we hadn’t seen one for years. Lindsay.

Waxwings taken near Nosterfield in North Yorkshire. Lindsay.

Skippool Creek about 2 miles from Cleveleys. This was the port of Poulton le Fylde, and was apparently a major port in the 18th century. Scenes show the roadway and creek during the high Spring tide. Adjoining land has been reclaimed and is now part of the Wyre Estuary Country Park. The Wyre Estuary Country Park includes the whole estuary from Fleetwood and Knott End up river as far as the Shard Bridge. Pam. Cleveleys.

Tide out- road leading to Yacht Club.Pam. Cleveleys.

Tide in – same road showing High Spring tide. Pam. Cleveleys.

View from roadway next to Yacht Club, showing Skippool Creek. with the River Wyre in background. Pam. Cleveleys.

Peter at the Lock is going to put a camera on a Otter Holt next week, that is of course if the Osprey doesn’t turn up.

The other good news is that we are going to host another webcam for SWT on a Peregrine Falcon nest, at their Falls of the Clyde Centre. We sent the camera to them this week and it is in the process of being installed. If all goes well it should be working by the latter part of this month. The camera is a pan, tilt and zoom and will be able to be used to watch other wildlife and interests at the centre.

The other good news, or I hope so is the underwater webcam on the US Virgin Islands. My initial contact on the Island, Michael emailed me on the 2nd of February asking if I would agree to the project being handed over to St. Croix Enviromental Assoc.(SEA) All the permission for the webcam are in hand, but since his email I have been unable to contact Michael. Earlier this week I made contact with the association and emailed their Managing Director Paul Chakroff who will be overseeing the project. I spoke to Paul at 5.pm this afternoon. Paul is very keen to get the camera installed and will attempt to make contact with Michael over the weekend to get the webcam equipment that I sent to him. Paul will get back to me early next week with an update. Here is the URL for the St. Croix Enviromental Assoc.(SEA) website. http://www.stxenvironmental.org/index.html Once this webcam is up and running we hope to do another webcam with them. Hopefully Turtles.

I emailed Libor in the Czech Republic today to see what they are going to do on their webcams. There are a few different project that they are hoping to do. Hopefully he will come back to me next week with a decision.

One webcam that I had hoped to do was a Starling roost. All of the places that had a roost did not have a nearby network connection. Two weeks ago it was reported in our local paper that there was a roost in the middle Taunton, about six miles from the Farm. I am sure that if I had of known earlier I could have got a webcam going. If you remember I told you of a large increase of Starling above the Farm last Autumn. I should think that they joined the Taunton roost.

Our relationship with WWT ended last week. As you have probably noticed the cameras have not been on for four months. The previous Manager Neil was moved sideways. Our agreement with WWT about the cameras was undermined by the new Manageress, to the degree that when I went to collect them last week the computer working them had been taken out four months ago. Both cameras were damaged as the heating inside them was off. Unfortunately Neil has been ill for four months and was unable make sure that all was in place to keep the camera working. It was getting to political for me.

We have not heard any news for over a couple of months of the Meerkat webcam. This was being arranged with a third party. I cant now see that one happening.

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Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

A little bit of history… Rob Roy’s grave, Scotland. Janice Leeds.

Whats on the shore line? Graham.~(Our website man) When he was Scotland last week.
The majority of them are Knot. A wading bird. Peter. SWT.

Red Squirrel on Brownsea Island. Merrilyn.

Harley Davidson Poodle and own mode of transport. Merrilyn.

We bated for rats the lower Badger feeding area two nights ago. It normally take a few days for the rats to take the bate. On checking it this evening all of the poison had gone and a large amount of the plastic container that the poison was in. There seems fewer rats in that area tonight. Some of the rats from the main Badger feeding will take the bate from where it is now as it is only 15m away. Within a couple of days we will bate the main area.

The Griffon Vulture webcam was a disaster last year. Simon the person who contacted us and set the location up had not made sure that every thing that was needed was in place or possible, and guess what, it wasn’t. we eventually got most of the equipment that we sent Simon returned to us, with the wireless equipment and camera that was on the Mountain still outstanding as the weather was to bad to climb to get it. As we may need a wireless connection for another webcam I asked Simon for the outstanding equipment to be returned. He told me that part of the mountain above the nesting site that the equipment was located on had fallen onto the equipment and it had gone. I wouldn’t have minded but he added that he had told me that the location was unstable and that could have been the outcome. I would never tell any person to risk loosing very expensive broadcasting equipment.

We are sending a new camera to Peter at Indian River Bay, Delaware this week for the Osprey webcam. It is a Pan Tilt and Zoom camera that Peter will put on the roof of his house that is at the most 200m from the nest. The new camera will be able to show the nest very close. The Osprey will be returning to both the Lock and Indian River Bay during February.

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Starting from number one there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

I cant see that I have missed any photographs but it looks that all we have left are five for tomorrow night.

Sunday morning sunrise from my kitchen window…..Jill, Epping.

Here are four pics I took last Saturday,, have never seen it like this in the last 28 years,, to see it so frozen over was sad,, but beautiful in its own way,, naturally lots of us are feeding the birds there. Sarah (surrey)

I put a rat trap out last night to try to catch one. It is positioned covered under where you can see what looks like two flowers blowing in the wind just before the dark area at the back behind the Horse jump. I didn’t look at until I put the Badgers food out this evening. All the food that I had put in the trap had gone but the trap had not been set off. I must have set it a little to high. I have readjusted it, so hopefully we may catch one. Mind you I have never trapped one before. To be honest I don’t know what I would do if I do catch one. Just looking at a rat me feel bad, so I try not to look.

We have been promised gales tonight. Looking at the way that the tower is shaking that the main Badger camera is on, it looks as if the weather people got it right for a change. The wind is coming from the Southwest the only direction that we lack a bit of cover. The Farm House, Cottages and Farm Buildings are a bit lower than the surrounding ground but not enough to stop getting some of the battering. The main Badger camera on the tower has no protection from Southwest Gales at all. Being in a valley most winds and gales from the other directions tend to pass above the Farm House and we also have protection of the trees in the woods that box us in other than from the Southwest.

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Starting from number one there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

ALL TAKEN AT Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife & Falconry Centre NEAR SHEFFEILD.

DUCK WITH A HAIRDO !! LYNNE.

GOOSE. LYNNE.

BARN OWL. LYNNE.

HAWK. LYNNE.

DEER IN CHATSWORTH DERBYSHIRE. LYNNE.

Karen asked about the Turtle Camera. Once the underwater camera is working a decision will be made about the Turtle Camera. It is taking a long time for the underwater camera to get going. I had hoped for it to be working by now, although the last email I received from Michael, my contact in the Virgin Islands was received on the 2nd of October. I believe that I put it on the Diary back a while. Any way here it is again.

Sorry I have been so out of touch but this has been a very busy hurricane and remodeling season for me. I have a kitchen and pool remodel that I am overseeing as well as re painting the Main house and to boot, I have had three surgical procedures in the last two months! Busy!

As for a status update… Everything is a go, just taking more time than I would have ever guessed. We have the necessary approvals and the underwater security holder has been constructed, the solar power set up and gel battery are the only hold ups. Waiting on the panel I am told as well as the gel style battery since it will be in a marine environment and we don’t want to risk contaminating the water with an acid spill. Worst case scenario is the cam will be up and running in December. I am truly hoping for November. With regards, Michael.

I also need to get a new camera over to Peter at Indian River Bay in Delaware USA, for the coming Osprey Season. If you remember Peters House overlooks the Osprey nest that is only a hundred metres or so from his house. We are going to send Peter a PTZ camera that he will install on his balcony. He will then be able to zoom in very close into the nest, as well as the Lake also in front of his house and hopefully to see other Birds of Prey in the area. If I remember correctly the Bold Eagle, Brown Eagle that Peter tells me is quite rare and another species that I forget the name of.

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Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

Thought I would share with you some forest ponds and autumn reflections, and some more Glistening Ink Caps – all taken in Epping Forest… Jill xx

Cricket Field Pond.

Middle Pond.

Middle Pond.

Third Pond.

Glissening Ink Cap. Jill xx.

It is not the telescope that is on camera 2 tonight, it is the Valley camera that we managed to get going today. To move the Valley camera we needed to control it from a computer, that was quite hard. We are now using a keyboard making it a lot easier. The Focus on the moon is not great, but we are seeing the moon as close as the small telescope in the observatory.

We disconnected the the infra-red lamps on the Valley camera and installed a different type believing that the Valley camera would have needed to be repaired. Now that we have got it working we will reconnect them.

The Wood we acquired yesterday borders the Valley and it is what you can see beyond the post and trees and far over to the right hand corner of the Valley. It then cover to the North and East to just under 18 acres. It needed to be under our control as although it belonged to Somerset County Council it was being used illegally for shooting. Why the Council sold it I will never understand. It was sold at the same auction as a Farm that borders it. I can understand the Farm being sold, but not the Wood.

Although I have lived at Denbury for fifteen years I have never been very far into the Wood. On Sunday we walked around a good part of the 18 acres. It was a lot nicer Wood than I had imagined. Over the years it has had very little work done to it. There are many fallen trees that will keep the Lads busy for the Winters for a few years cutting logs. There will also need to be a lot of thinning to open the canopy. I am making it sound not very nice, but it is a very beautiful wood, with a couple of streams, two small quarries and a restored Lime Kiln. It is a wonderful wildlife site that Red, Roes Deer, Fox and Badgers live or frequent.