Finally getting colder ...

I haven't been able to spend a lot of time at the hide lately, only 1 short session. Still the same visitors: Great tits (Koolmees), Blue tits (Pimpelmees), Crested tits (Kuifmees), Eurasian jay (Gaai), Blackbird (Merel), European robin (Roodborst), Eurasian nuthatches (Boomklever), Eurasian wren (Winterkoning), 2 Common buzzards (Buizerd), Squirrel (Eekhoorn) and 2 Roe deer (Ree). Also1 new species, Eurasian siskin (Sijsje). I hope to spend more time in the hide the next few weeks to discover more new visitors as winter and cold are (hopefully) coming.

 Eurasian nuthatch

 Crested tit

 Blue tit

 Roe deer

Common buzzard

Hawfinch !

Last week I went to the new hide to make some photos. For the first time I stayed in the hide for a few hours to check out the activity and the visitors. I was very happy when one of my 'objectives' appeared in front of the hide: the Hawfinch (Appelvink). He just came over the drink a short time before he flew off again, but gave me just enough time for 1 photo. Other visitors: Great tits (Koolmees), Blue tits (Pimpelmees), Crested tits (Kuifmees), Eurasian jay (Gaai), Blackbird (Merel), European robin (Roodborst), Short-toed treecreeper (Boomkruiper), Eurasian nuthatches (Boomklever), Common chaffinch (Vink), Eurasian wren (Winterkoning) and 2 Common buzzards (Buizerd).

 Hawfinch

 Eurasian nuthatch

 Eurasian wren

 Crested tit

 European robin

 Short-toed treecreeper

 Common buzzard

 Common buzzard

Eurasian jay

Visitor update

First update of the visitors at the new hide. I spend very little time in the hide so most of the visitors were seen by the trailcam (which mostly doesn't register the smaller birds). Who's visiting ? Regular birds are Eurasian jay (Gaai), Great tit (Koolmees), Blue tit (Pimpelmees), Eurasian wren (Winterkoning), Eurasian nuthatch (Boomklever) and European robin (Roodborst). Also Red squirrel (Eekhoorn) and Roe deer (Ree) are seen regulary.
Last week I started to put out prey to in order to attract birds of prey. Already 3 different Common buzzards (of which 2 young birds) are regular visitors.

 Eurasian wren

 Eurasian nuthatch

 Roe deer

 Red squirrel

 Juvenile Common buzzard

 Another Common Buzzard

Juvenile Common buzzard

Construction of the hide - first visitors

Finally I had some time to finish the hide ... .I recovered the wooden front and roof of my previous hide. The sides are covers of big wooden boxes. I covered the roof with plastic to be waterproof. Afterwards I covered the hide with branches. The backside is closed with removable canvas. On the front I use plexiglas with mirror foil to have a better view and I have an opening for my lens.

A little while ago I already put my trailcam in place to see what's visiting. It is a new pool and it were rainy days so not that many birds were registered (small birds are most of the time not registered by the trailcam). But ... one of my objectives already came over to drink: a Hawfinch (Appelvink). I hope they'll become regular visitors. Other birds are Eurasian jay (Gaai), Common blackbird (Merel), Song thrush (Zanglijster) and European robin (Roodborst). I hope to have some time the next few weeks to check out the visiting birds and to take some photos.

 Finally (almost) finished !

 View from the hide

Another view from the hide

 Eurasian jay, the first visitor !

Hawfinch

Work in progress

I finally started with the construction of the new forest hide and drinking pool. It will be located in a mainly pine forest with parts of deciduous trees in the neighbourhood of a town called Arendonk. The pool is almost finished, now the hide is next. I'll keep you updated.

End of one chapter, beginning of a new ...

A few months ago I had to do something I didn't like ... removing the private hide from the forest. That part of the forest got a new destination, some of the trees were cut and I had to go. I left the forest, leaving no traces. All together I've been able to use the hide for almost 1,5 year and spotted (or the trailcam) 26 different species of birds + 6 mammals at the hide and pool:

  BIRDS                                                                MAMMALS
- Great tit (Koolmees                                                 - Hedgehog(Egel)
- Blue tit (Pimpelmees)                                              - Red fox (Vos)
- Roodborst (European robin)                                    - Bank vole (Rosse woelmuis)
- Chaffinch (Vink)                                                      - Roe deer (Ree)
- European blackbird (Merel)                                    - Squirrel (Eekhoorn)
- Wood pigeon (Houtduif)                                          - Rabbit (Konijn)
- Carrion crow (Kraai)
- Eurasian jay (Gaai)
- Great spotted woodpecker (Grote bonte specht)
- Little spotted woodpecker (Kleine bonte specht)
- Green woodpecker (Groene specht)
- Brambling (Keep)
- Common redpoll (Kleine barmsijs)
- Long-tailed tit (Staartmees)
- Redwing (Koperwiek)
- Northern wren (Winterkoning)
- Siskin (Sijs)
- Common buzzard (Buizerd)
- Eurasian sparrowhawk (Sperwer)
- Northern goshawk (Havik)
- Tawny owl (Bosuil)
- Short-toed treecreeper (Boomkruiper)
- Eurasian nuthatch (Boomklever)
- Song thrush (Zanglijster)
- Willow warbler (Fitis)
- Eurasian magpie (Ekster)

I didn't get all the species I was looking for but after all I'm satisfied, especially with the 3 different birds of prey. For me personally Northern goshawk in the snow was my top moment !
Since I heard I had to leave the forest I've been looking for a new spot to build a hide. Luckily I found a new place. I hope to start building the next few weeks. I'll keep the blog updated with construction news.

The hide and drinking pool are gone ...

Bullfinches and more

A little while ago I visited a fellow nature lover who is living at a great place with a lot of birds. I put a camouflage tent hide at a small pool at his property. My objective were the Hawfinches (Appelvink)which came over to drink on daily basis. I spend a few hours in my tent at the rather busy drinking pool. Bullfinches (Goudvink) and European Greenfinch (Groenling) were visiting all the time. Other visitors were Goldfinch (Putter), Song thrush (Zanglijster), Eurasian blackcap (Zwartkop), Stock dove (Holenduif), European robin (Roodborst), Common blackbird (Merel), European pied flycatcher (Bonte vliegenvanger), Yellowhammer (Geelgors), Common redpoll (Kleine barmsijs) and European Rabbit (Wild konijn). I had a nice time in the tent hide, nevertheless no Hawfinches showed up.

 European Greenfinch (Groenling)

 European Rabbit (Wild konijn)

 Eurasian blackcap (Zwartkop)

 Song thrush (Zanglijster)

 male Bullfinch (Goudvink)

 female Bullfinch (Goudvink)

 Common redpoll (Kleine barmsijs)

 Pied flycatcher (Bonte vliegenvanger)