Fox approaches the raccoon family.

Remember this is filmed in Infrared - so the animals cannot see! The first time the fox moved in - the raccoon family didn't even notice. The second time, they all ran away! I don't think the fox would take on the mother racoon.

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/4Nq8Y8EJsaA

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Mike Mason

Three raccoon families and no more eggs laid - so seven is the clutch

I think we have three raccoon families visiting. One with two cubs, one with three cubs, and one with four cubs. It's going to get busy out there.

(No new eggs were laid this morning - so we now watch the mother in the nest.)

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/kC2N5xb2Ipc

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Mike Mason

First raccoon cubs and seven eggs...

We have seen our first raccoon cubs of the year!!!! Also on day seven we have seven eggs in the bird box.

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/Cn8NcH8CPrE

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Mike Mason

Day 6 and 6 eggs - and some very surprised squirrels and chipmunks

Day 6 in the nesting box and 6 eggs.

The raccoons are not normally out in the morning daylight - but this one was there at 7:30am and surprised the squirrels and the chipmunks.

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/uiauxtPSYmk

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Mike Mason

Ricky gets closer, the fox visits, and day 4 - 4 eggs.

Ricky the Raccoon gets closer in the evening, the fox makes a flying visit, and it day 4 - 4 eggs in the nesting box.

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/_MnAUr5gDi4

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Mike Mason

Raccoon lazy bones and day three - third egg!!!

The raccoon coming out from under the shed is the lazy bones - the one in the foreground had been running around for 5 hours by this time!!!!

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/Xi_RdRB8igY

Day three and the third egg was laid. The wren stands guard outside the nest!

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Mike Mason

Second Egg....

The wren entered the bird box at 6:22AM - about 4 minutes after sunrise, and when it moved at 6:46AM, there was the second egg. Also a little later it was defending the nest from another wren!!!!

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/XSNw12PM7Ro

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Mike Mason

Ricky Close up and our FIRST EGG

Another angle to show how close Ricky the raccoon is getting.

YouTube Video  https://youtu.be/fxKy_H6fHjM

The story of the first egg. Nest building, nest checking, mating and then the first egg has been laid.

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/RsAcyEb4TEk

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Mike Mason

Raccoon take-over and nest building is underway

I think the raccoons have taken over the backyard. Up to the back door and relaxing out back.

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/Gwom5W_9hdQ

Nest building is underway - hoping we get some eggs and chicks.

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/3F51lfnrXdc

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Mike Mason

Bird nesting, hummingbirds, and an every closer ricky....

Just pictures today.  The wrens are building their nest in the bird house.  Regular visits from humming birds, and ricky the raccoon was almost at the seed trays before i had put the food down!!!

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Mike Mason

Raccoon - close up!!

The raccoon (Ricky) may be reluctant to come to the back door - after Molly's actions yesterday - but she is still more than keen to come close to me when I put the food down!!!! About 5 feet away.

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/YfXiDWJDn4A

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Mike Mason

Miss Molly (our cat) and the raccoon......

Miss Molly - our cat ( 18 years old, 4 pounds and deaf) noticed the raccoon running along the back by the glass doors - and was NOT amused!!! She scared it away once, then came face to face at the back door (through the glass) and hissed at the raccoon.

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/XN1QZfSjdo8

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Mike Mason

A shy raccoon and a quick fox visit.

The raccoon was very shy under the shed last evening - not ready to come out. Something may have spooked it during the day. The fox paid a quick visit.

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/zknXAcOOTqs

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Mike Mason

 First, the raccoon comes to the back door a couple of times to remind me that it is time to put the food out!! Then, it comes into the seed trays before I've left - about 6-8 feet away. I'm getting well trained!

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/dk45cB25EOU

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Mike Mason

Attachments area

Preview YouTube video 20210507 raccoon time

20210507 raccoon time

A tree raccoon, a fox and three raccoons.......

Getting busier at night - the fox was here for a while and then three raccoons at the same time. The first picture shows where our evening raccoon goes if I don't get the food out soon enough - up the tree!!!!!

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/ofvYqKEOexA

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Mike Mason

Two evening raccoons and the start of a nest in the bird box

Two raccoons were out in the evening - one came to the back door to remind me to put the food out!!!!!

This is the first shot of a bird starting to build a nest in the bird box.

YouTube Video https://youtu.be/Mupi7MdLrW0

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Mike Mason

"The Stare"

Every afternoon from about 4:00pm onwards, we are subjected to 'The Stare".  The raccoon (who we call Ricky) comes out from under the shed - where her cubs are - and  stares at the house until I take food out.  If that doesn't work she comes close the back door to hurry me along!!!!

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Mike Mason

Raccoon digging for ???

The raccoons spent a long time digging around the seed trays - can't quite see what they are eating - but there seems to be a lot of it!! I suspect insects - but I do wonder about cicadas????

We also are now seeing a steady stream of hummingbirds.

YouTube Video (of a raccoon digging) https://youtu.be/Js63niEScl8

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Mike Mason