Sounds like mice or rats.

Whatever they are, if you put some bait down and that kills the ones there,
then that normally solves the problem and no others tend to return - so you
don't have to bother trying to seal every possible hole

dg


"Diphthong" wrote in message
om...
it sounds as if someone is sprinkling rice for a second or two onto the
top of
the ceiling boards. Happens just for a second or two and then nothing else
for
hours or more. Is this typical of mice?
I have noticed it several times in the small hours recently. One time at
about
3am there was quite a fluttering sound, like wings going beserk, which
lasted a
while but it really wasn't the time to get the step ladder out and wake
the
whole household! Sceptical friends have suggest birds perched on the
gutter
can sound as if they're in the loft, or may have dropped small items that
roll
the roof.

I can't see anything knawed in the loft, or any droppings.

One side of the house is fairly rough natural stone, easily climbed by
critters
I'm sure, and at the top there are plenty of gaps which the builders tried
to
plug with some sort of metal mesh (though not very well) after we
complained
about the starling we once chased out of the place.

Obviously I'd like to seal things up good and proper while still allowing
ventilation. Any suggestions? The smallest mesh I can find is 6mm squares,
and another usenet posting suggests some small fiends can still get
through
something even as fine as that!

If I can find a smaller mesh, would that keep out most wee beasties? Is
that yellow-y spray foam stuff suitable for pluggin any other small holes,
do rodents feed upon it happily, is it a toxic nightmare to spray it in a
confined space on all fours?

The other noise we're getting sounds like something falling down inside
the
cavity wall... which leads to another question... the top of the cavity
wall
is open in the loft, so if anything can get into the cavity via the recent
conservatory work it can in theory get into the loft. Am I OK to cover
the
top of the cavity wall, or does it need to 'breathe'?

I just want a quiet loft devoid of all lifeforms from mould upwards in
size!
HELP!

thanks.