WonderfulWildlifeUK

Nearly three-quarter of a million trees are winging their way across the UK as part of the Woodland Trust’s Big Climate Fightback. Almost 4,000 schools and community groups will be taking delivery of the free saplings over the next two weeks, and while each group has its own reasons for planting, every tree will count […] from James Common https://commonbynature.co.uk/2019/11/14/700000-free-trees-for-local-communities/

One of my favourite projects has been the development of my Mammal box. Over the years, it has grown and changed and this current design is one I have used for several years now. The box is lit 24 hrs a day and there is a Hikvision minidome camera inside. The small mammals enter via two entrances that are made from 19mm wardrobe fittings as these allow mice, voles and shrews in, but not rats. What makes this set-up special is the fact that is has a removeable ‘set’. The inside section can be removed and ‘dressed’ to change the environment that the mammals interact with. At present, it is dressed like a natural set. I had moved the box and it as taken a few months for the mammals to rediscover it and, with winter on the way, it has started to get busy again. For that reason, I have started live streaming it again, so you can log on and watch. There is a lot more activity from early evening and through the night, rather than during the day, although I do get some visitors in daylight h...

Sunny at first the clouding up, 8°, light W. A rather uneventful walk out to Lollingdon and back today. An increase in the number of Winter Thrushes around with 100+ Fieldfare and around 20 Redwing and a few Mistle Thrush . Also at least 4 Bullfinch around the hill and the Linnet / Chaffinch flock reaching around 100 birds. Some late insects noted today with a Brimstone butterfly seen (PC&TW) and a pair of Common Darter in tandem mode. Several observers reporting sightings of a Little Egret around Cholsey recently. A couple of Roe Deer also seen. from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2019/11/uneventful.html

Photos today from Alan Dawson. Egyptian Geese, a lot around at the moment. A Cormorant drying out. from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2019/11/cholsey-marsh.html

Sunshine with variable cloud, 8°, breezy W. Not a lot out there today, very few Winter Thrushes around, a handful of Fieldfare and 2 Redwing . The highlight was a male Merlin that zipped overhead and disappeared south over Lollingdon Hill. A female Sparrowhawk seen hunting and a flock of 25 Stock Dove . A rather Late Common Darter seen sunning itself near the Bullshole. from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2019/11/late-dragonfly.html

Recently, I have been capturing some great footage using a camera that Hikvision have lent me. I am looking at how some of their CCTV cameras can be used for filming wildlife. Many of these cameras are designed to be used to monitor a large area, such as a carpark. I tend to use them in a much smaller area and with a much closer focus. I have been amazed at how close some of these cameras will focus, making them brilliant for wildlife filming. The other aspect that makes them great for filming in the way I do, is the ability to control the camera from my PC. I can log directly onto the camera, where I can zoom and focus. The footage below is all from a Hikvision ‘Dark Fighter’ Bullet camera. I have this camera mounted on a stand, so I can move it around. It is wired directly back to my PC, where is runs through iCatcher Console. This software monitors the camera and records footage when it detects movement. I can then lift the footage to share. For a few weeks, I have had the camera...