We are having a lull in the action at the moment, so a quick update on what has been going on so far today.
We appear to have had two youngsters in 9a all day. They have been very restless, laying down in the hall, climbing over each other, changing position and generally making a lot of commotion. So cute.
There were several small ones milling about, then Nightshift came in briefly, and then went out with two babies in tow. Nightshift came back in leaving a very small chap munching away on the ATM. She then came down onto the patio and a couple of babies came down a few minutes later. Then Nightshift dashed up to the ATM and ran back down to the patio with the little baby trotting along behind. Nightshift went into 9c for a rest, leaving baby having a drink of water outside - for ten minutes. One thirsty hedgehog! Then Nightshift came out of 9c, seemed to be showing baby around the patio and then went back into 9c - and baby followed.
A few minutes later they were out. Nightshift went up onto the lawn and out of the ATM, leaving baby standing in the mealworm bowl. Looking at the cameras, baby's front feet looked rather large and floppy. We picked it up to give it a check up. The left foot just seemed to be covered in mud, but the right one we weren't quite sure about. There was some mud on it, but it also seemed at little fleshy. We gave both feet a rinse, and the right foot doesn't look right, but we didn't want to stress the poor little thing any more, so we put it back on the patio. We'll keep an eye on it.
We didn't get the chance for a good look, but we think she's a girl. No sign of ticks, which is good news, and she is absolutely full of life. We hope we didn't stress her too much but she seems OK. She's back on the ATM munching mealworms again. We certainly got the feeling Nightshift was showing her where to live. As we haven't seen Nightshift doing this with the other babies we have seen, we wonder if the others are not hers and are an older, already independent litter.
At the moment, all is quiet...
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Nightshift pays a flying visit
Having seen from the captures of the last few days that the hedgehogs were still about after dawn, I decided to watch the back garden for signs of life this morning. So, at 6:15 I was watching... The weather has warmed up dramatically - it was 18 degrees at 6:15, and the baby hedgehogs in 9a seemed to be very restless. They have cleared a lot of the straw from the hall, and I could see one little chap asleep in the hall with its nose in the tunnel. Then another woke up and came out from under the straw and climbed over it into the tunnel. I thought I was going to get a real treat - but no, it went to sleep.
Then at 6:37 movement caught my eye under the raspberries at the left of the garden - Nightshift had come in through the ATM unobserved, and was now making for the ramp leading to the patio.
A whispered "Get down here quickly" on the cordless to the sleeping beauty upstairs and we were both watching Nightshift tucking into mealies outside 9b. Then she moved onto the mealies outside 9c - and went into 9c. She dived into the hole in the straw she made yesterday, turned round and lay down for a few moments. She didn't settle, though - probably too warm like the babies, and a few minutes later she emerged and trundled back up the garden and out of the ATM. Of course, we were still in our night clothes, otherwise we would have nipped out of the front to see if we could see where she went. We think she is staying in one of the other gardens along the alley at the back, but we can't say for sure.
Anyway, we managed to grab a few photos. I didn't want to use the flash - for one thing it would have reflected off the windows - but it wasn't fully light, and it's a rather grey misty day, so most of the photos are shaken, even with the ISO rating up to max. So, I picked the best three photos of the lovely Nightshift. Looks like I need to get the tripod set up tomorrow morning.
Then at 6:37 movement caught my eye under the raspberries at the left of the garden - Nightshift had come in through the ATM unobserved, and was now making for the ramp leading to the patio.
A whispered "Get down here quickly" on the cordless to the sleeping beauty upstairs and we were both watching Nightshift tucking into mealies outside 9b. Then she moved onto the mealies outside 9c - and went into 9c. She dived into the hole in the straw she made yesterday, turned round and lay down for a few moments. She didn't settle, though - probably too warm like the babies, and a few minutes later she emerged and trundled back up the garden and out of the ATM. Of course, we were still in our night clothes, otherwise we would have nipped out of the front to see if we could see where she went. We think she is staying in one of the other gardens along the alley at the back, but we can't say for sure.
Anyway, we managed to grab a few photos. I didn't want to use the flash - for one thing it would have reflected off the windows - but it wasn't fully light, and it's a rather grey misty day, so most of the photos are shaken, even with the ISO rating up to max. So, I picked the best three photos of the lovely Nightshift. Looks like I need to get the tripod set up tomorrow morning.
The things we do to watch hedgehogs
When we first found we had hedgehogs in the garden, we were watching them through a night vision scope. It was great to see them, and totally enthralling when they arrived. But they might not arrive until after midnight, and they stayed till dawn. We had many late and even a few sleepless night. So, we got the infra-red cameras and the recorders, to watch from the comfort of the living room, and catch up with the night's happenings during the day.
We have now found we have hedgehogs visiting the front of the house, as well as the back, so we have an "emergency" camera set up in the letter box, with a cable running down the hall to a PC. But it's always nice to watch the hedgies "live", so we are now resorting to laying on the hall floor, peering through the letterbox... but what a thrill to see a hedgie feeding 18 inches from you, totally unconcerned.
Here's a clip of one of tonight's visitors. You can see it hear me open the inside flap of the letter box part way through as it prickles up.
Tonight has been quite busy, but seems to be all babies. No sign of the adults at all. It turns out that Nightshift didn't stay the day - what we thought was a hedgie in 9c was actually a hole she'd made in the straw. Nightshift did visit 9c twice overnight, but only for a few minutes, followed by her regular visit to check 9d was in order before she left.
There was a lovely moment as she was heading for 9c as a baby which was also on the patio tagged along. It looked to be heading straight for 9c - until it noticed the bowl of mealworms and got sidetracked.
There was also a great moment with another of the babies. Unfortunately, this camera is not very clear, and the cobweb over the lens doesn't help, but at the very beginning you can just make out baby jumping down the steps. We don't know how she got off the patio - we assume she found the ramp, as the steps look way too high for her.
We did have at least two babies in 9a during the day - two came out in quick succession. They are gradually clearing the straw from the hall, so we can see them as they move in and out now.
We have now found we have hedgehogs visiting the front of the house, as well as the back, so we have an "emergency" camera set up in the letter box, with a cable running down the hall to a PC. But it's always nice to watch the hedgies "live", so we are now resorting to laying on the hall floor, peering through the letterbox... but what a thrill to see a hedgie feeding 18 inches from you, totally unconcerned.
Here's a clip of one of tonight's visitors. You can see it hear me open the inside flap of the letter box part way through as it prickles up.
Tonight has been quite busy, but seems to be all babies. No sign of the adults at all. It turns out that Nightshift didn't stay the day - what we thought was a hedgie in 9c was actually a hole she'd made in the straw. Nightshift did visit 9c twice overnight, but only for a few minutes, followed by her regular visit to check 9d was in order before she left.
There was a lovely moment as she was heading for 9c as a baby which was also on the patio tagged along. It looked to be heading straight for 9c - until it noticed the bowl of mealworms and got sidetracked.
There was also a great moment with another of the babies. Unfortunately, this camera is not very clear, and the cobweb over the lens doesn't help, but at the very beginning you can just make out baby jumping down the steps. We don't know how she got off the patio - we assume she found the ramp, as the steps look way too high for her.
We did have at least two babies in 9a during the day - two came out in quick succession. They are gradually clearing the straw from the hall, so we can see them as they move in and out now.
Monday, 7 September 2009
More lodgers
Just a quick update on last night before I start work...
Not so many visits at the front, but a long visit with two hedgehogs together for some of the time. One smaller chap, now christened Hughie because of his distinctive dot-dot-dash markings (.._ is Morse Code for U) has also been spotted in the back garden. The other larger hedgie at first sight looks very like Nightshift, but we need to study more closely.
The back garden was quite busy with lots of ins and outs. We definitely saw two successive departures from 9a. The occupants seem very restless, because there are lots of triggers in both the hall and the bedroom - independent triggers, so it looks like at least two in residence. Maybe the bedroom is so full (of straw or hedgehogs?) they are having to sleep in the hall?
There were two hedgies together on the rear patio, and a trigger of one on the 9c steps eating from the bowl, but no triggers of anything going in or out. There was definite activity in 9c, and it seems there is a hedgehog present at the moment.
There was also some activity in 9d, but there is no sign of one in at present - but it may be hidden under the straw. We will have to check the videos to be sure.
The night before last was much colder than last night, but we have more takers for the accommodation. It seems they sense it is time to start bedding down with a bit more shelter.
Yesterday was very quiet on the bird front - we put out the normal amount of bird food, but a lot of it was left last night - looks like they had a day out. The starlings made their usual noisy visit this morning, but they weren't here for their evening meal yesterday.
When we first put the plastic feeding station (9e) in position, the hedgies took to it immediately. A couple of young blackbirds also took to visiting regularly for the mealworms, which was doubly unusual, in that we haven't seen much interest in mealies from blackbirds, and the blackbirds are not the most daring of the birds around us. We were very surprised that the starlings hadn't been in. Well, a couple of days ago one starling found its way in, and a little later had brought a friend. We have seen a few more in, but it doesn't seem to regular... yet.
We had another "new" visit this week - a pair of sparrows. We haven't seen a sparrow in the garden for over a year. This pair are not here for long, but they do seem to be coming every day, and are making use of the bathing facilities we offer, as well as the dining facilities. They were even inspecting the bird box which the robins used earlier in the year.
Not so many visits at the front, but a long visit with two hedgehogs together for some of the time. One smaller chap, now christened Hughie because of his distinctive dot-dot-dash markings (.._ is Morse Code for U) has also been spotted in the back garden. The other larger hedgie at first sight looks very like Nightshift, but we need to study more closely.
The back garden was quite busy with lots of ins and outs. We definitely saw two successive departures from 9a. The occupants seem very restless, because there are lots of triggers in both the hall and the bedroom - independent triggers, so it looks like at least two in residence. Maybe the bedroom is so full (of straw or hedgehogs?) they are having to sleep in the hall?
There were two hedgies together on the rear patio, and a trigger of one on the 9c steps eating from the bowl, but no triggers of anything going in or out. There was definite activity in 9c, and it seems there is a hedgehog present at the moment.
There was also some activity in 9d, but there is no sign of one in at present - but it may be hidden under the straw. We will have to check the videos to be sure.
The night before last was much colder than last night, but we have more takers for the accommodation. It seems they sense it is time to start bedding down with a bit more shelter.
Yesterday was very quiet on the bird front - we put out the normal amount of bird food, but a lot of it was left last night - looks like they had a day out. The starlings made their usual noisy visit this morning, but they weren't here for their evening meal yesterday.
When we first put the plastic feeding station (9e) in position, the hedgies took to it immediately. A couple of young blackbirds also took to visiting regularly for the mealworms, which was doubly unusual, in that we haven't seen much interest in mealies from blackbirds, and the blackbirds are not the most daring of the birds around us. We were very surprised that the starlings hadn't been in. Well, a couple of days ago one starling found its way in, and a little later had brought a friend. We have seen a few more in, but it doesn't seem to regular... yet.
We had another "new" visit this week - a pair of sparrows. We haven't seen a sparrow in the garden for over a year. This pair are not here for long, but they do seem to be coming every day, and are making use of the bathing facilities we offer, as well as the dining facilities. They were even inspecting the bird box which the robins used earlier in the year.
Sunday, 6 September 2009
A quiet night
Last night seemed quiet, compared to the last few nights. There were only six visits at the front, compared to twelve the night before, and there wasn't as much activity at the back. Not sure why, but maybe the weather had something to do with it. The first visitor arrived at 7:50 pm, the earliest yet.
There were still quite a few hedgies around, and we had two small ones meeting outside the ATM. One went through the ATM and stood on the steps inside the ATM munching mealworms. The second hedgie tried to get through, but the entrance was blocked. It kept trying to get past, but in the end the poor thing gave up and went away.
The next clip is at the entrance to 9a. The first hedgehog has just come out of the house and is standing partly inside the tunnel, eating mealworms we scattered at the entrance. A second hedgie turns up, wanting to get into the house. Eventually it gets fed up waiting and squeezes down the tunnel into the house.
We still don't know how many hedgies there are in 9a. There was at least one there during the day, but there is so much coming and going we have given up trying to keep track. They seem to be getting on quite well, so it could be they are siblings.
It looks like we will have to either widen the ATM or make a second entrance as it has been blocked several times - it was again tonight. We also had a blockage in 9e, the plastic box feeder. One hedgie was inside when another came in the door. The first hedgie frightened the second, which balled up in the doorway. The first couldn't get out, and its panic upset the second even more, so it wouldn't move. Finally the first managed to squeeze out.
We had a somewhat more worrying sighting on the ATM. The hedgehog stumbled as it climbed into the ATM, as if its front leg gave way. It rolled over onto its side and just lay there for a few seconds. It seemed to struggle to stand up and climbed back out of the ATM, but it then just sat outside for six minutes before walking away. We have seen hedgies overbalance while scratching but they just stand up immediately, whereas this one just lay there. The poor hedgie looked decidedly unwell. We didn't see it again last night, but we'll keep an eye open for it tonight and if it has problems we'll give it a check up.
We think we have a lodger in the boiler room again. Difficult to tell under the pile of straw, but there are signs of movement. One hedgie made two short visits to the mealies, sniffed at them and wandered off, so it doesn't seem too interested. We've put some commercial hedgehog food out tonight to see if it's more interested in that.
We did have two other visitors who really tucked into the mealies, one for 13 minutes, one for seven, so it looks like the other one was just being fussy.
There were still quite a few hedgies around, and we had two small ones meeting outside the ATM. One went through the ATM and stood on the steps inside the ATM munching mealworms. The second hedgie tried to get through, but the entrance was blocked. It kept trying to get past, but in the end the poor thing gave up and went away.
The next clip is at the entrance to 9a. The first hedgehog has just come out of the house and is standing partly inside the tunnel, eating mealworms we scattered at the entrance. A second hedgie turns up, wanting to get into the house. Eventually it gets fed up waiting and squeezes down the tunnel into the house.
We still don't know how many hedgies there are in 9a. There was at least one there during the day, but there is so much coming and going we have given up trying to keep track. They seem to be getting on quite well, so it could be they are siblings.
It looks like we will have to either widen the ATM or make a second entrance as it has been blocked several times - it was again tonight. We also had a blockage in 9e, the plastic box feeder. One hedgie was inside when another came in the door. The first hedgie frightened the second, which balled up in the doorway. The first couldn't get out, and its panic upset the second even more, so it wouldn't move. Finally the first managed to squeeze out.
We had a somewhat more worrying sighting on the ATM. The hedgehog stumbled as it climbed into the ATM, as if its front leg gave way. It rolled over onto its side and just lay there for a few seconds. It seemed to struggle to stand up and climbed back out of the ATM, but it then just sat outside for six minutes before walking away. We have seen hedgies overbalance while scratching but they just stand up immediately, whereas this one just lay there. The poor hedgie looked decidedly unwell. We didn't see it again last night, but we'll keep an eye open for it tonight and if it has problems we'll give it a check up.
We think we have a lodger in the boiler room again. Difficult to tell under the pile of straw, but there are signs of movement. One hedgie made two short visits to the mealies, sniffed at them and wandered off, so it doesn't seem too interested. We've put some commercial hedgehog food out tonight to see if it's more interested in that.
We did have two other visitors who really tucked into the mealies, one for 13 minutes, one for seven, so it looks like the other one was just being fussy.
Saturday, 5 September 2009
A Letterbox with a View
Having seen a hedgehog on the front path a few nights ago, we started to put a few mealworms out for them. The mealworms have been eaten, and they have left a few poos in return. We set up a temporary camera through the letterbox the night before last, but the muppet currently sitting typing this forgot to press the record button.
Last night we were going out for a meal, so we set the camera up through the letter box again, the record button was duly clicked and we set off for our Chinese meal. We returned just after 10:30 pm, to find no hedgehog on the path, but the mealworms had been displaced. We sneaked a look in the boiler house, and yes, there was a hedgehog curled up in there. We assumed it had run when we arrived. We put in a few handfuls of straw so it would have a bit of comfort and left it in peace.
We found there had been three visits to the front door while we were away, the last just before we arrived home, but the hedgie hadn't been in any hurry to leave, so I don't think we frightened it and it had retired to the boiler room of its own accord.
This is the second visit of the evening. The hedgie arrives up the path and exits left, through a gap between two plant pots, which leads to the boiler room.
Checking this morning, we found we had had twelve separate visits by hedgehogs between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am. We haven't worked out how many different individuals, but we think at least three.
The one in this clip
has a terrible itch. We wonder if G L Wilson's Scratchy has taken a few days holiday. We haven't recognised any individuals from the back garden, so we don't know if they are from the same group, but there isn't a Scratchy visiting the back garden.
Some visitors are arriving from the path, some from the direction of the boiler room, so it would seem that it is at least used for the odd nap. When we checked this morning, the straw had been rearranged, and we think we heard a few hedgie snuffles coming from inside.
Meanwhile, at the back... It seemed business as usual, although we haven't really checked all the captures. There has been a bit of activity in 9a since daylight, so it appears that we have at least one lodger there. Unfortunately, we put in so much straw the camera is obscured, and the only means of identifying the presence of a vsitor is by the tremors in the straw. The straw is being rearranged gradually, so eventually we may be able to see them again. From a quick scan of the triggers overnight we think there are more than one hedgehogs in 9a at the moment.
Last night we were going out for a meal, so we set the camera up through the letter box again, the record button was duly clicked and we set off for our Chinese meal. We returned just after 10:30 pm, to find no hedgehog on the path, but the mealworms had been displaced. We sneaked a look in the boiler house, and yes, there was a hedgehog curled up in there. We assumed it had run when we arrived. We put in a few handfuls of straw so it would have a bit of comfort and left it in peace.
We found there had been three visits to the front door while we were away, the last just before we arrived home, but the hedgie hadn't been in any hurry to leave, so I don't think we frightened it and it had retired to the boiler room of its own accord.
This is the second visit of the evening. The hedgie arrives up the path and exits left, through a gap between two plant pots, which leads to the boiler room.
Checking this morning, we found we had had twelve separate visits by hedgehogs between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am. We haven't worked out how many different individuals, but we think at least three.
The one in this clip
has a terrible itch. We wonder if G L Wilson's Scratchy has taken a few days holiday. We haven't recognised any individuals from the back garden, so we don't know if they are from the same group, but there isn't a Scratchy visiting the back garden.
Some visitors are arriving from the path, some from the direction of the boiler room, so it would seem that it is at least used for the odd nap. When we checked this morning, the straw had been rearranged, and we think we heard a few hedgie snuffles coming from inside.
Meanwhile, at the back... It seemed business as usual, although we haven't really checked all the captures. There has been a bit of activity in 9a since daylight, so it appears that we have at least one lodger there. Unfortunately, we put in so much straw the camera is obscured, and the only means of identifying the presence of a vsitor is by the tremors in the straw. The straw is being rearranged gradually, so eventually we may be able to see them again. From a quick scan of the triggers overnight we think there are more than one hedgehogs in 9a at the moment.
Friday, 4 September 2009
Twosie's Blog... Supplemental
We had a scan through the captures this morning and saw a fair bit of activity in 9a overnight. I saw a trigger about 7:40, so I thought we had a hedgie in residence, but we saw no more triggers during the morning and put it down to an insect or a bit of interference. Going back further, a hedgie left at around 5:30, having previously spent a bit of time collecting all the straw in the tunnel and hall and taking it into the bedroom. Obviously cold, she'd returned to her other nest. Going back further, to the previous trigger, where she came in - we found it was actually another hedgie leaving. We couldn't believe two hedgies in the same box. We think they are from the same litter and used to sleeping together.
At lunchtime we decided that we would put some more straw in the box, since we had only put in a small amount, for summer napping rather than the autumn chill. I took the lid off the box and sure enough, all of the straw was piled up into the bedroom. We had a spare fleece pet blanket, so we thought we'd put that in as well, for a bit of extra warmth, so I scooped out some of the straw to put the blanket in.
Ouch! That straw is sharp - no it's another hedgehog. So, we had had three in for a significant part of the night. No wonder Tiny Tina seemed so hungry last night, popping out for all those snacks - they were taking it in turns. So, we put the blanket on top, piled in some more straw, fixed the roof and retired as quickly as possible.
Poor little thing, what a shock she would have got. It will teach us to be more careful in future, checking the coast really is clear. She didn't come out, so hopefully she nodded off to sleep again.
While we were at it we refilled 9b. We cleaned it out a few weeks ago and just left it empty to "air" for a while, but we feel it might be coming into use again. Nightshift and at least one Tina have been on to the patio.
At lunchtime we decided that we would put some more straw in the box, since we had only put in a small amount, for summer napping rather than the autumn chill. I took the lid off the box and sure enough, all of the straw was piled up into the bedroom. We had a spare fleece pet blanket, so we thought we'd put that in as well, for a bit of extra warmth, so I scooped out some of the straw to put the blanket in.
Ouch! That straw is sharp - no it's another hedgehog. So, we had had three in for a significant part of the night. No wonder Tiny Tina seemed so hungry last night, popping out for all those snacks - they were taking it in turns. So, we put the blanket on top, piled in some more straw, fixed the roof and retired as quickly as possible.
Poor little thing, what a shock she would have got. It will teach us to be more careful in future, checking the coast really is clear. She didn't come out, so hopefully she nodded off to sleep again.
While we were at it we refilled 9b. We cleaned it out a few weeks ago and just left it empty to "air" for a while, but we feel it might be coming into use again. Nightshift and at least one Tina have been on to the patio.
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