One evening earlier this month, we caught a fleeting glimpse of a hedgehog visiting the garden. Suddenly, I knew what I wanted for my birthday – A wildlife camera! It was promptly ordered and arrived soon after. I couldn’t wait to set it up!
The first problem was deciding where to put the camera. I was hoping to catch photos and videos of the garden birds, as well as the prickly visitor. After much umming and ahhing, I decided to put it by the plant pots underneath the bird tables. I knew the hedgehog passed by there and I was sure the birds hopped about there too.
The wildlife camera did not disappoint! Within an hour, the hedgehog had popped by for a visit to fill its belly and the birds had been hopping about too. The camera also caught the hedgehog returning for a midnight snack. Thankfully, the hedgehog seemed unbothered by the camera.
One of the blackbirds had a good nose at the camera while collecting material, but didn’t seem too bothered by it.
The not-so-little baby blackbird certainly looks big enough to feed itself, but it spends much of its time insisting that its parents feed it! I’ve seen it chasing its mother around the garden wanting to be fed.
Squirrels also regularly visit the garden, so sometimes the birds have to wait their turn!
One of the sparrows, however, kept pecking at the camera, much to my annoyance! So after that, I decided to move the camera.
The camera’s current position won’t capture the hedgehog’s visits, but it does capture the blackbirds taking a bath! They seem to have great fun in the water.
I’ve only had the wildlife camera a couple of weeks so far, but I’m really enjoying it. It’s fun to see who’s been visiting the garden, especially if a new visitor pops up!
40 Comments
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
What great videos! That was quite a thumping the sparrow was giving the camera.
Nikki
It was! I had to move the camera in fear the sparrow would break it!
Carol
wonderful idea for a present – lovely video captures
Jodie
What a great idea for a gift! I know I’d love one as we have lots of raccoons, skunks and possums who visit us too! I really enjoyed watching several of these. Thanks for sharing!
Nikki
I’d definitely recommend one!
Barbara Lofgren
What fun!
Eastside Cats Blog
I want one too!
We don’t have hedgies, but I do enjoy watching squirrels; they are so playful and those tails.
Happy Birthday!
Nikki
I’d recommend one! Thank you 🙂
CherryPie
What lovely videos, it is lovely to see your garden visitors.
I wonder if the sparrow was after insects? Recently my garden sparrows have been behaving the same way next to my lounge window (whilst flying!). I thought that perhaps they were after small spiders and insects. On previous occasions other birds have behaved in the same way.
Nikki
Possibly, although I couldn’t see any insects on the camera when I checked it. Thankfully, it has been free from being pecked in its new position.
Kris P
Wonderful! We pull video from our security cameras periodically when we see signs of animal activity but we don’t get the closeups you do (although we do have several cameras we can check). I love the hedgehog videos. We don’t have native hedgehogs here, although that didn’t stop my local botanic garden from including a photo of one in an advertisement for a wildlife tour 😉
A belated happy birthday!
Wendy Williams
What a lot of fun! I love this.
lisl
It’s good to see what goes on in your garden when you are not tere watching. I will certainly watch your videos, Nikki
Anca
I love it!! I saw some clips on Instagram, so I love seeing more. My hope is that you will fancy sharing more of these clips, because they are just wonderful.
Alan Rolfe
Fabulous! I liked the sparrow fighting with the “intruder”.
Lisa
Wow, what a brilliant idea, Nikki, you’ve got some amazing footage in only a few weeks as well! Look forward to seeing more in due course as summer progresses 🙂
Jo
Great videos, I could spend hours watching the wildlife. We never used to get squirrels in our old garden and we had so many visiting birds but we’ve already encountered squirrels here stealing the birds’ seed.
Felicity Grace Terry
My goodness that camera most certainly didn’t disappoint, you got some great footage there.
Nikki
I’m very pleased with it!
Marty
You had me worried for a moment in that first paragraph. I thought you wanted a hedgehog! Great videos. What a wonderful idea. Please post more soon!
Nikki
Well, they are cute! 😀
Kelly
I’ve loved the clips you’ve shared on Instagram, so I’m glad to see more here!
Johanna Bradley
Hungry little souls, aren’t they?
Sharon Robinson
What a lovely idea for a present. 🙂 You have some wonderful footage. Xx
Her Digital Coffee
You’ve got some great videos! Wildlife watching is a ton of fun, I can’t wait to hear what you capture next. Thanks for sharing!
somewhereinireland
Amazing videos. I love the blackbird taking a bath, he was having so much fun. I’m sure you’ll get lots of interesting visitors making an appearance on this camera. Enjoy and have fun. Have a wonderful week.
hb
How fun! Hedgehogs are incredibly cute–really enjoyed your videos. The baby bird looks extra well fed–Mum and Dad are generous.
I’ve wanted a wildlife camera for quite a while. It would be nice to know exactly what’s eating the roses.
Nikki
I’d definitely recommend getting a wildlife camera!
Yvonne (@Fiction_Books)
What an amazing gift, I know my husband would love this, so thanks for the idea!
Do you have any nature reserves or similar nearby, where you could lose yourself in a bird-hide for an hour or so? I think that would be a great experience and would yield some excellent footage.
Keep on sharing those clips, I love them! 🙂
Nikki
Yes, we do. Although, a number of the hides have been damaged recently. I really don’t know what gets into people.
Yvonne (@Fiction_Books)
I know! There seems to be little or no respect for life or property any more! I don’t know if we can ever go back now to much kinder gentler times, or if the system is broken beyond repair 🙂
Becky
Oh that’s amazing, i love that you get to see hedgehogs in your garden. I don’t think any could get in – or out of ours. Birds and bees will have to do.
https://thelifestylebloggeruk.com
Soma @ InkTorrents.com
What a great idea!! You got some amazing footage already. I don’t think I would get anything done, I would watch the videos all day.
-Soma
Mike@bitaboutbritain
Fabulous, Nikki! I’ve never been that bothered about a camera, but you’ve got me thinking I should get one!
Tilly
love the videos, we had a wildlife camera for all of two days, the Squirrel pulled it off the tree and the badger dismantlement it.
Nikki
Oh dear!
Tilly
Eunice Ratcliffe
I’ve often thought about getting a wildlife camera, your lovely videos have just convinced me 🙂
Derrick Knight
What a lovely set – and short enough to have time to watch them all. How have I missed you?
walkingoffthechessboard
Great videos and a great idea. Although as some of the other commenters have noted, we’d have to make sure it was fairly “wildlife-proof” because we have our share of nutty squirrels, sailing birds, and hopping bunnies…along with the occasional geese or ducks who sometime “miss their landing” near the golf course we live near and wind up where we live!