I have mentioned the roosting Treecreepers we have been seeing on our evening outings with the thermal imager and here is the promised post. When driving around Maridalen in the dark Jr has normally sat in the passenger seat and used the thermal imager to spot Moose, Roe Deer or Foxes and in the late autumn Woodcocks. Recently though Jr has done the driving and I have got to use the thermal. I haven’t spotted many large animals but I have spotted roosting birds. First out were Magpies which are of a similar size to Woodcock so perhaps no surprise that they would be visible but to find Treecreepers was not what I expected. Firstly, what are the chances they would be roosting close to, and visible from, the road and secondly, how can such a small creature shine so bright and be picked up when driving past?
The first bird found was 20 metres from the road and the second 10 metres but both really lit up in the sensor. They have proven to be site faithful and are seen every night we try for them. I assumed they were holding onto the tree trunk with there sharp claws but visiting the sites in the daytime when the birds are not there shows they are using small cavities so their bodies are supported in the cavity and it just their tails sticking out.
Bird 1:
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| the view in the thermal imager from the road at about 20m |
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| The roosting Treecreeper - picture taken with the superzoom and flash |
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| picture of the tree taken in the day with a curios Nuthatch (spettmeis). The roost site is a small hole in what is clearly a rotten birch. Note also the droppings immediately under the hole |
Bird 2:
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| the view in the thermal imager from the road at about 10m |
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| the roosting bird taken with the bazooka and flash |
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| yet again note the droppings |
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| the roost site in the daytime |
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