Who are these night visitors?

[The Woodman]

What about Bank Voles being the culprits - they like bananas (and mangos).

[posie]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

What about Bank Voles being the culprits - they like bananas (and mangos).

Funny you should say that Woodman, cos there are loads of bankvoles very close, to the delight of the buzzard.Also, some little 'mouse-type' species has a network of burrows under the lawn, 'cos my smaller dog digs them into big holes when she gets the chance......Whatever these are,that are coming in to feed, unless they are all babies, they must be a small variety, 'cos of the tiny droppings.I'll have to look up which are the small ones,(I wish I had a book)....Posie..

[paulinemiller10]

I would get your cctv out Posie, and a ten watt bulb, it would be exciting to find out who's eating your bananas, its much better than tv.

I have quite a few cams, one is set up in a shelter I made for hedgehogs, it has two hedgehog size holes to come in, I ve had mice, hedgehogs, polecats, rats, birds, and even a fox that pushed his nose through the hole, but could'nt get in, slugs, spiders and beetles will come and eat the food too.
Go on, get your cam on them, find out who the banana eater is. Pauline.

[posie]

Yes, pauline , you have inspired me to get on with it.I'll have to unscrew the camera from the foaling box (stable) ceiling, then search the stuff in storage for the Monitor, then search for the lead from the camera to the monitor, that could be anywhere, and was 300ft long, till my little darling dog chewed it, so I will have to remake a short bit of lead, putting the ends on (only need about 10 ft,) Is it worth it ?? How much does a cctv set-up cost that is in colour and doesnt need wire from the camera.'cos I've just thought mine doesn't have colour. My monitor wouldn't be any good, so I could put it into the colour TV couldn't I?Think our local ironmongers/gift shop had some nesting box camera thingy's at Xmas that went into the TV. will give them a ring........Watch this space....At least you've got me going on this..Thanks for the encouragement....Posie..

[posie]

No they haven't got them now and they were black and white too, so what I'll do is set up the one I've got and then do some googling to find out what there is on the market. If anyone's got any information on products with approximate prices, I would be grateful if you post it on here for me.It might even inspire others to do a set up like Pauline.

[paulinemiller10]

Most of my cams are black and white Posie, I use them for hedgehogs, mice, bees, I had one on a blackbirds nest one year, if the bird was frightened in the night, she would get up and her eyes would look scared, we used to go out and have alook around, she would then settle down, put her head under her wing and go back to sleep, but once the cam went off, she was on her own til morning, but all the babes made it into the big wide world, so very handy to help keep a nest safe.
Most of my cams are cheap with six infrared lights, they will light up about two foot in the dark, but I have two better quality with a lot of infrared lights, that will light the whole garden like daylight, they are colour in day, b/w in the night.

I know what you mean having to look for things, and then you find something needs repairing, it can be a lot of work, but once its set up its very rewarding to watch the wildlife. Pauline.

[posie]

Thankyou Pauline for the information.Good news, I caught a glimpse of 'little lodger' today, unfortunately he saw me too, and skuttled at great speed under the freezer, so I couldn't describe him/her. I had put a small piece of bread and margerine with a layer of peanut butter on, and the spoilt little brat had chewed off all the peanut butter and margerine and left me the bread. I had also 2 days ago put half a banana with skin on and it has been completely hollowed out, you'd think they'd be claustrophobic going down in there for the last bits,(because it wasn't a big banana), but apparantly not! Also they must come out backwards because there wouldn't be room to turn around in there. Isn't it fascinating, as you previously said, better than watching Television....or did somebody else say that?..Posie..

[paulinemiller10]

Ooooooo thats exciting Posie, what a strange creature, wonder what it is, hope you find out soon.

I had two polecats a few years ago, one of my doves was dragged out of the dovecote through a narrow air vent, its got wire there now.
I caught the polecats and relocated to my friends farm as I had ten pet rabbits, all passed on now, a few months ago another one turned up in the shelter, but he has'nt been back, I don t mind having them around now as I hav'nt got the rabbits, and the dovecote is locked up every night.

I have never tried the wireless cams, but I have had friends buy them as they did'nt want wires hanging about, but they found the pictures were'nt very clear, and they interfere with other equipment, but they do improve things all the time, so might be ok now. Pauline

[posie]

well, from the glimpse I got it is some sort of mouse, but which sort I don't know.I suppose mice can get into small spaces. I'm now beginning to wonder if he/she/they are actually living in the conservatory, as there are droppings in several places where there isn't any food. They do after all have all they need in there, shelter, food, water, but I'm loathe to move the freezer etc. out to look for a nest in case it frightens them off.I haven't got any cats up here in the house ,and though I've got 3 beautiful farm cats who live in the barns down the farm they don't come near the house.I didn't go out and get any of the cats, they have just appeared on the farm as ferals and stayed and are now tame.(took a while). just going to do last feeds now, including cheeky little lodgers.....Posie..