There was a bit of a queue for the feeder on the patio last night.... So we've at least two that come into the garden. These two were following each other around the patio for quite some time and didn't seem to mind the bit of rain we had. However, the house under the azaleas had no visitors. There was quite a bit of traffic through the doorway in the fence. Out. Back in again seven seconds later, perhaps it forgot something? Another visitor, not so welcome, but they are around in the garden every year. As usual, all the food was eaten.
A lot of activity for several hours last night, at least two of them, despite the temperature..Like..freezing!
Thanks for the interest. That actually is one of the old cameras. This is the new one. It can also take longer videos, 30secs instead of 20. Still cold, only +2c when this was taken.
At least two hedgehogs on the camera last night, but none were together. In and out of this feeder several times. The house under the azaleas was not visited. I turned the camera around that covers the doorway in the fence, to face the house in the corner of the garden behind the black bamboo. There was some activity, passing the house on the way to the feeder. But this was the last photo of one disappearing into the house, at five to six this morning, so it may still be in there. (You can just see its bum in the photo). Still very cold at this time in the morning. The resolution on this new camera is very high, I had to reduce this photo dramatically for the site to upload it.
This was the earliest photo taken last night at 7.34 pm. Whether it had just come out of the house, I can't say for sure. But it's likely What I wasn't happy about was the attention given to both houses at the bottom of the garden, by a neighbour's pesky cat. It actually stood on the roof of this house for a few seconds, before making its way towards the other one. It can't get at either the food or inside either of the houses, but the attention wouldn't be welcome. It may be just curious as it's all fairly new and as there's nothing for it, maybe it'll go elsewhere. There's no photo of the hedgehog actually going back into the house. But there is one with nothing on it at around half past four, so maybe it just missed it going in. Only one visited the feeder on the patio and not all the food was eaten. Maybe they are finding live food elsewhere.
I had my suspicions that the house under the azaleas next to our patio, may be occupied. So as well as in the feeder on the patio, I put some in a small bowl next to the entrance of the house. The first recording was this, of it coming out at nine minutes past nine last night. It then had a wander around but came back for some dinner at eight minutes to eleven. For the next several hours, it spent all its time taking in bits of loose hay it found outside the house. There will be more than enough hay in the house and its efforts were a bit pathetic. But, "it's what they do." The last sighting was at thirteen minutes past five this morning, of it going back into the house. It was the 73rd photo/video which shows how busy it was going in and out of the house. I'll leave more food and some loose hay outside the house tonight. Traffic through the doorway in the fence was between 9.46pm in and out, with a final out at 4.47am. All the food in the feeder on the patio was eaten.
Great pics and commentary with this latest group. Your Herald is one of my summer high points. Cheers.
Quite a bit of activity last night. Early "first sitting" for dinner. There were at least two visitors. Here, one is in the feeder and the second one tried to get in, but the first one wouldn't let it. It curled up in a ball, blocking the entrance. There were then a few face offs on the patio with a lot of huffing and puffing. But the second one eventually got in the feeder, but whether there was any food left, I've no idea. There may be some competition for the house under the azaleas. After a feed, the first one went in and seemed to be in there quite a while "rearranging the furniture." Then the second one attempted to get in at 23.34 half an hour later, but wasn't allowed. It made second attempt at 23.37. But still was denied entry. Then the first one came out at 23.41.
Not a good photo, but this hedgehog spent over an hour taking bits of straw (I'd left outside the house a week ago) and leaves in, between three and four last night and then stayed in. So maybe we will get some baby hedgehogs, later this year? It's quite a desirable residence with a double roof with an overhang to protect the entrance from any rain. A large patio and a security fence. Food is delivered daily.. well... nightly.
