Hi All
we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; I will go up
there shortly but am puzzled as to what it might be.

We had rats some years ago (collapsed drain, since repaired) and I am pretty
sure it is not them. All we hear is a short bit of 'scrabbling'. only for a
period of 30secs or a minute, around midnight or so, some nights. The noise
actually comes from a corner of the first floor ceiling which is an outside
corner, as it were. I've taken a look outside at that corner with with
binoculars but cannot see anything unusual.

As I say, I will take a look in the loft shortly but I am curious in advance
as to what it might be, given the very short nature, and timing, of the
noise. Theories welcome...

Cheers
Jon N

jkn wrote:

we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; Theories welcome...

Every time I've thought it might be rodents, it's turned out to be birds.

On 16/06/17 08:20, jkn wrote:
Hi All
we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; I will go up
there shortly but am puzzled as to what it might be.

We had rats some years ago (collapsed drain, since repaired) and I am pretty
sure it is not them. All we hear is a short bit of 'scrabbling'. only for a
period of 30secs or a minute, around midnight or so, some nights. The noise
actually comes from a corner of the first floor ceiling which is an outside
corner, as it were. I've taken a look outside at that corner with with
binoculars but cannot see anything unusual.

As I say, I will take a look in the loft shortly but I am curious in advance
as to what it might be, given the very short nature, and timing, of the
noise. Theories welcome...

Cheers
Jon N

Meece...

or perhaps another small rodent, or perhaps nesting birds


--
To ban Christmas, simply give turkeys the vote.

On 16/06/17 08:27, Andy Burns wrote:
jkn wrote:

we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; Theories
welcome...

Every time I've thought it might be rodents, it's turned out to be birds.

Every time I've thought it might be birds, it's turned out to be rodents.

--
To ban Christmas, simply give turkeys the vote.

The Natural Philosopher formulated on Friday :
Meece...

or perhaps another small rodent, or perhaps nesting birds

As it kicks in at regular times, could it be the hot water system
starting to heat up at a set time?

If it is bats, don't tell anyone about it as they are protected and it might
be difficult to legally get rid of them if they have been there for some
time. Much better, though not for the bats, is to wait till they are all out
hunting at night then block up the hole they are using to get in.

Brian

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"jkn" wrote in message
...
Hi All
we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; I will go up
there shortly but am puzzled as to what it might be.

We had rats some years ago (collapsed drain, since repaired) and I am
pretty
sure it is not them. All we hear is a short bit of 'scrabbling'. only for
a
period of 30secs or a minute, around midnight or so, some nights. The
noise
actually comes from a corner of the first floor ceiling which is an
outside
corner, as it were. I've taken a look outside at that corner with with
binoculars but cannot see anything unusual.

As I say, I will take a look in the loft shortly but I am curious in
advance
as to what it might be, given the very short nature, and timing, of the
noise. Theories welcome...

Cheers
Jon N

Squirrels also like lofts. However from the timing, Bats can be the main
suspect.
Brian

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"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
news
On 16/06/17 08:20, jkn wrote:
Hi All
we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; I will go
up
there shortly but am puzzled as to what it might be.

We had rats some years ago (collapsed drain, since repaired) and I am
pretty
sure it is not them. All we hear is a short bit of 'scrabbling'. only for
a
period of 30secs or a minute, around midnight or so, some nights. The
noise
actually comes from a corner of the first floor ceiling which is an
outside
corner, as it were. I've taken a look outside at that corner with with
binoculars but cannot see anything unusual.

As I say, I will take a look in the loft shortly but I am curious in
advance
as to what it might be, given the very short nature, and timing, of the
noise. Theories welcome...

Cheers
Jon N

Meece...

or perhaps another small rodent, or perhaps nesting birds


--
To ban Christmas, simply give turkeys the vote.

On 16/06/2017 08:20, jkn wrote:
Hi All
we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; I will go up
there shortly but am puzzled as to what it might be.

We had rats some years ago (collapsed drain, since repaired) and I am pretty
sure it is not them. All we hear is a short bit of 'scrabbling'. only for a
period of 30secs or a minute, around midnight or so, some nights. The noise
actually comes from a corner of the first floor ceiling which is an outside
corner, as it were. I've taken a look outside at that corner with with
binoculars but cannot see anything unusual.

If it is bats then watching outside at dusk as they come out to hunt
will confirm it. They tend not to be in the roost at night- leaving at
dusk to go out hunting and when they come back are lightning fast.

As I say, I will take a look in the loft shortly but I am curious in advance
as to what it might be, given the very short nature, and timing, of the
noise. Theories welcome...

I suspect it is more likely mice. Bats do make a noise from time to time
but only for a few nights a year when the youngsters are learning to fly
and crash into things. Its a bit early for that ~late July where I live.

It could also be birds nesting - they make scrabbling noises too.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

In message , Harry Bloomfield
writes
The Natural Philosopher formulated on Friday :
Meece...

or perhaps another small rodent, or perhaps nesting birds

As it kicks in at regular times, could it be the hot water system
starting to heat up at a set time?

Sounds a bit late for Bat noises. I'm no expert but our Pipistrelles
emerge at dusk and go off to feed. They seem to prefer the East side of
buildings but this may be conveniently sprung cladding boards.
June is a likely time for offspring so maybe mum comes back and you hear
the subsequent kerfuffle.


--
Tim Lamb

On 6/16/2017 9:31 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
On 16/06/2017 08:20, jkn wrote:
Hi All
we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; I will
go up
there shortly but am puzzled as to what it might be.

We had rats some years ago (collapsed drain, since repaired) and I am
pretty
sure it is not them. All we hear is a short bit of 'scrabbling'. only
for a
period of 30secs or a minute, around midnight or so, some nights. The
noise
actually comes from a corner of the first floor ceiling which is an
outside
corner, as it were. I've taken a look outside at that corner with with
binoculars but cannot see anything unusual.

If it is bats then watching outside at dusk as they come out to hunt
will confirm it. They tend not to be in the roost at night- leaving at
dusk to go out hunting and when they come back are lightning fast.

As I say, I will take a look in the loft shortly but I am curious in
advance
as to what it might be, given the very short nature, and timing, of the
noise. Theories welcome...

I suspect it is more likely mice. Bats do make a noise from time to time
but only for a few nights a year when the youngsters are learning to fly
and crash into things. Its a bit early for that ~late July where I live.

It could also be birds nesting - they make scrabbling noises too.


+1 to all that

On Friday, 16 June 2017 09:10:43 UTC+1, Brian Gaff wrote:
If it is bats, don't tell anyone about it as they are protected and it might
be difficult to legally get rid of them if they have been there for some
time. Much better, though not for the bats, is to wait till they are all out
hunting at night then block up the hole they are using to get in.


I have the same problem with students in the lab ;-)

What students bringing bats or being a protected species?
Brian

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"whisky-dave" wrote in message
...
On Friday, 16 June 2017 09:10:43 UTC+1, Brian Gaff wrote:
If it is bats, don't tell anyone about it as they are protected and it
might
be difficult to legally get rid of them if they have been there for some
time. Much better, though not for the bats, is to wait till they are all
out
hunting at night then block up the hole they are using to get in.


I have the same problem with students in the lab ;-)

Yes if its birds, wait till they all fledge then block it up.
Brian

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"Martin Brown" wrote in message
news
On 16/06/2017 08:20, jkn wrote:
Hi All
we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; I will go
up
there shortly but am puzzled as to what it might be.

We had rats some years ago (collapsed drain, since repaired) and I am
pretty
sure it is not them. All we hear is a short bit of 'scrabbling'. only for
a
period of 30secs or a minute, around midnight or so, some nights. The
noise
actually comes from a corner of the first floor ceiling which is an
outside
corner, as it were. I've taken a look outside at that corner with with
binoculars but cannot see anything unusual.

If it is bats then watching outside at dusk as they come out to hunt will
confirm it. They tend not to be in the roost at night- leaving at dusk to
go out hunting and when they come back are lightning fast.

As I say, I will take a look in the loft shortly but I am curious in
advance
as to what it might be, given the very short nature, and timing, of the
noise. Theories welcome...

I suspect it is more likely mice. Bats do make a noise from time to time
but only for a few nights a year when the youngsters are learning to fly
and crash into things. Its a bit early for that ~late July where I live.

It could also be birds nesting - they make scrabbling noises too.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Also whatever it is, the access hole need not be where the scrabbling
occurs, the roost or next will not be near the hole or the weather will come
in.
Brian

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"newshound" wrote in message
news
On 6/16/2017 9:31 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
On 16/06/2017 08:20, jkn wrote:
Hi All
we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; I will go
up
there shortly but am puzzled as to what it might be.

We had rats some years ago (collapsed drain, since repaired) and I am
pretty
sure it is not them. All we hear is a short bit of 'scrabbling'. only
for a
period of 30secs or a minute, around midnight or so, some nights. The
noise
actually comes from a corner of the first floor ceiling which is an
outside
corner, as it were. I've taken a look outside at that corner with with
binoculars but cannot see anything unusual.

If it is bats then watching outside at dusk as they come out to hunt will
confirm it. They tend not to be in the roost at night- leaving at dusk to
go out hunting and when they come back are lightning fast.

As I say, I will take a look in the loft shortly but I am curious in
advance
as to what it might be, given the very short nature, and timing, of the
noise. Theories welcome...

I suspect it is more likely mice. Bats do make a noise from time to time
but only for a few nights a year when the youngsters are learning to fly
and crash into things. Its a bit early for that ~late July where I live.

It could also be birds nesting - they make scrabbling noises too.


+1 to all that

On Friday, 16 June 2017 11:35:09 UTC+1, whisky-dave wrote:
On Friday, 16 June 2017 09:10:43 UTC+1, Brian Gaff wrote:
If it is bats, don't tell anyone about it as they are protected and it might
be difficult to legally get rid of them if they have been there for some
time. Much better, though not for the bats, is to wait till they are all out
hunting at night then block up the hole they are using to get in.


I have the same problem with students in the lab ;-)

Difficult to legally get rid of them ;-)
Best wait until they leave the lab then lock them out until the next day.

On 16/06/2017 13:32, Brian Gaff wrote:

Also whatever it is, the access hole need not be where the scrabbling
occurs, the roost or next will not be near the hole or the weather will come
in.
Brian

There isn't much separation on mine. And the hole is unbelievably small
more like a narrow slit of missing mortar. Weather doesn't get in.

The young fledgling bats can find their way through miniscule gaps and
sometimes end up on the downstairs carpet unable to climb the skirting
board to gain height and fly again. bat conservation taught me how to
take them back to the roost after getting fed up with callouts.

My bats cling to the roof and under the eaves just above the point of
entry. I don't begrudge them a home in the loft even and put trays down
to catch the droppings. The whole idea freaks my cousins out.

I think numbers are less this year with the oil boiler no longer running
for hot water. It isn't quite as cosy any more.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On 16/06/2017 13:30, Brian Gaff wrote:
Yes if its birds, wait till they all fledge then block it up.

Our wrens fledged today. I found one of them drowned in a bucket on the
patio

Andy

Update:
Hi all. I managed to get up in the loft this (sweltering) weekend. The
evidence is clear - fresh rat droppings ;-(. Have put some traps down and we
will take it from there.

Thanks for all the ideas/observations

Jon N

On 18/06/2017 22:17, jkn wrote:
Update:
Hi all. I managed to get up in the loft this (sweltering) weekend. The
evidence is clear - fresh rat droppings ;-(. Have put some traps down and we
will take it from there.

Good luck with that. The ones round here are too smart for traps or
anything other than farm grade professional poison bait. They were able
to eat the stuff normally sold to the public without apparent harm!

Snag is with poison that they go off somewhere to die and in this heat
that will pong a lot and attract many flies.

Thanks for all the ideas/observations

Jon N

Good luck!

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

In message , Martin Brown
writes

Snag is with poison that they go off somewhere to die and in this heat
that will pong a lot and attract many flies.

tangent Our dog loves to bring home remnants of long dead wildlife
and, since our bin was last emptied, I have added two rabbits and a
pigeon. The bin is due to be emptied Wednesday, and it *stinks*.

--
Graeme

On 18/06/2017 21:03, Vir Campestris wrote:
On 16/06/2017 13:30, Brian Gaff wrote:
Yes if its birds, wait till they all fledge then block it up.

Our wrens fledged today. I found one of them drowned in a bucket on the
patio


So did my hedge sparrows. I grounded the cat for 24 hours.


--
Adam

On 19/06/2017 08:53, Martin Brown wrote:


Snag is with poison that they go off somewhere to die and in this heat
that will pong a lot and attract many flies.

For me the life cycle concluded with many hundreds of baby spiders
abseiling from the loft hatch.


--
mailto: news {at} admac {dot] myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On Mon, 19 Jun 2017 19:27:02 +0100, ARW
wrote:


So did my hedge sparrows. I grounded the cat for 24 hours.

Dunnock?

My daughter had a young downy herring gull wander into the house
today. It will be a few weeks before it flies but as a parent was
nearby she put it out.

I've warned her to watch the toddlers as the parent might attack if
they go out near it in the garden.

My big excitement was finding a stag beetle on the kitchen floor.

AJH

In message ,
writes
On Mon, 19 Jun 2017 19:27:02 +0100, ARW
wrote:


So did my hedge sparrows. I grounded the cat for 24 hours.

Dunnock?

My daughter had a young downy herring gull wander into the house
today. It will be a few weeks before it flies but as a parent was
nearby she put it out.

I've warned her to watch the toddlers as the parent might attack if
they go out near it in the garden.

My big excitement was finding a stag beetle on the kitchen floor.

A rain beetle would be more useful just now:-)

--
Tim Lamb

On 19/06/2017 20:18, wrote:
On Mon, 19 Jun 2017 19:27:02 +0100, ARW
wrote:


So did my hedge sparrows. I grounded the cat for 24 hours.

Dunnock?


No idea. I am not a big bird fan. That does not mean that I want fat
Toby eating the babies.




My daughter had a young downy herring gull wander into the house
today. It will be a few weeks before it flies but as a parent was
nearby she put it out.

I've warned her to watch the toddlers as the parent might attack if
they go out near it in the garden.


Toby would eat it and the mother.



My big excitement was finding a stag beetle on the kitchen floor.


Not seen one of those for a while.

Toby would probably play with it and then try eating it.

--
Adam

On 19/06/17 20:37, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message ,
writes
On Mon, 19 Jun 2017 19:27:02 +0100, ARW
wrote:


So did my hedge sparrows. I grounded the cat for 24 hours.

Dunnock?

My daughter had a young downy herring gull wander into the house
today. It will be a few weeks before it flies but as a parent was
nearby she put it out.

I've warned her to watch the toddlers as the parent might attack if
they go out near it in the garden.

My big excitement was finding a stag beetle on the kitchen floor.

A rain beetle would be more useful just now:-)


Nah mate. whear's looking good, and you wont say that when this hot
spell ends with a massive thunderstorm localised flooding and the wheat
all laid over flat and disgusted.

--
New Socialism consists essentially in being seen to have your heart in
the right place whilst your head is in the clouds and your hand is in
someone else's pocket.

Andy Burns wrote:

jkn wrote:

we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; Theories welcome...

Every time I've thought it might be rodents, it's turned out to be birds.

And true again today ... first thing this morning scratchy feet type noises from the loft on the bedroom ceiling, then nothing. Later I though the postman had pushed something big through the letterbox which was inexorably slipping to the floor as often happens, then a starling suddenly appears in the bedroom and perches on the curtain pole! It had been slowly pushing its way through insulation in the corner of the bathroom where I've moved/replaced a 110mm vent pipe with an 83mm one.

On 11/11/2019 10:17, wrote:
Andy Burns wrote:

jkn wrote:

we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; Theories welcome...

Every time I've thought it might be rodents, it's turned out to be birds.

And true again today ... first thing this morning scratchy feet type noises from the loft on the bedroom ceiling, then nothing. Later I though the postman had pushed something big through the letterbox which was inexorably slipping to the floor as often happens, then a starling suddenly appears in the bedroom and perches on the curtain pole! It had been slowly pushing its way through insulation in the corner of the bathroom where I've moved/replaced a 110mm vent pipe with an 83mm one.


If its birds pigeons are the most likely culprit, and if so get rid of
them as fast as possible. Within a week or so you will be feet deep in
pigeon poo. Been there and I have the T shirt. My experience was before
having a new roof fitted and I had lost two slates. I put off the repair
for a few weeks and my loft was invaded by the local flock of pigeons.
Unfortunately for them many were still in the loft when the roof was
repaired and being mid summer they soon died. Luckily the heat also
rapidly dehyrdated the bodies and I was spared the problem with rotting
corpses. When I later went in the loft there were two nests with eggs
and a number of dead birds. They had been roosting of the purlins and
the amount of **** on them and the boards underneath was substantial. A
mask, scraper, vacuum cleaner. mop, scrubbing brush and a garden sprayer
filled with bleach later and the area was sanitised allowing for
relatively clean storage.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

alan_m wrote:

If its birds pigeons are the most likely culprit, and if so get rid of
them as fast as possible.

Pigeons here are so fat they'd need a cat-flap to get in.

As I said it was a starling, they do have a history of getting in
underneath the cut tiles around the roof vent. I replaced the lead
weathering slate with an aluminium one, and replaced adjacent roof tiles
when I changed the vent stack from 110mm to 83mm, and put some bird
combs on the eaves for good measure ... persistent buggers.

Tunnelling birds? Was it related to a Puffin?
Brian

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wrote in message
...
Andy Burns wrote:

jkn wrote:

we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; Theories
welcome...

Every time I've thought it might be rodents, it's turned out to be birds.

And true again today ... first thing this morning scratchy feet type noises
from the loft on the bedroom ceiling, then nothing. Later I though the
postman had pushed something big through the letterbox which was inexorably
slipping to the floor as often happens, then a starling suddenly appears in
the bedroom and perches on the curtain pole! It had been slowly pushing its
way through insulation in the corner of the bathroom where I've
moved/replaced a 110mm vent pipe with an 83mm one.

Yes, I gather that birds do not have much on board storage for poo, and
hence often eject it wherever they are when their tank is full. I often
think that mice do the same thing, but of course mice don't fly.
Brian

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Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"alan_m" wrote in message
...
On 11/11/2019 10:17, wrote:
Andy Burns wrote:

jkn wrote:

we have a strange noise coming from a corner of the loft; Theories
welcome...

Every time I've thought it might be rodents, it's turned out to be
birds.

And true again today ... first thing this morning scratchy feet type
noises from the loft on the bedroom ceiling, then nothing. Later I though
the postman had pushed something big through the letterbox which was
inexorably slipping to the floor as often happens, then a starling
suddenly appears in the bedroom and perches on the curtain pole! It had
been slowly pushing its way through insulation in the corner of the
bathroom where I've moved/replaced a 110mm vent pipe with an 83mm one.


If its birds pigeons are the most likely culprit, and if so get rid of
them as fast as possible. Within a week or so you will be feet deep in
pigeon poo. Been there and I have the T shirt. My experience was before
having a new roof fitted and I had lost two slates. I put off the repair
for a few weeks and my loft was invaded by the local flock of pigeons.
Unfortunately for them many were still in the loft when the roof was
repaired and being mid summer they soon died. Luckily the heat also
rapidly dehyrdated the bodies and I was spared the problem with rotting
corpses. When I later went in the loft there were two nests with eggs and
a number of dead birds. They had been roosting of the purlins and the
amount of **** on them and the boards underneath was substantial. A mask,
scraper, vacuum cleaner. mop, scrubbing brush and a garden sprayer filled
with bleach later and the area was sanitised allowing for relatively clean
storage.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk