Tapping noise maybe solved - was 'Beetle neighbour ghost'

[Dave]

The tapping noise persists (see "Beetle neighbour ghost" thread). However this morning I saw a couple of starlings (I think they were starling) disappear down our chimney pot! Assuming that these are the source of the tapping noise I could easily fix it IF only I could get to the chimney stack. I have an extension ladder to get to the eaves - I guess I need a roofing ladder to get up the roof itself. A few questions then please:-

You agree it seems the birds are trying to nest in the chimney stack and this is the source of the noise (it only ever happens very early morning)?

Should I have the chimney swept to remove possible debris from these birds? The is a gas fire in each of the two ground floor rooms (3 bed semi).

Where can I get a roof ladder from? Can I hire one? Any reccommendations/advice very much appreciated. I don't mind heights but I'd like to know how to use one of these ladders properly (tie what to what etc)

Many tia.

[Parish]

Yes. Doh! that happened to us last year - didn't occur to me when I read your original post.

Yes, most definitely, especially with gas fires. Our sweep filled two black bin bags with the debris! I was suprised by the amount and he explained that birds won't go more than a foot or so down the chimney so they just keep dropping twigs etc. down (which lodge on the bends in the flue) until the pile reaches high enough, then build the nest on top of that (he also said that old nests are rock hard so it's like "trying to smash through a concrete block"). So you'd have problems removing all the debris from the top of the chimney.

BTW, he charged us £35.

[Dave]

Yes I just had a quote for sweeping $30 per flu - *but* he wanted £55 per chimney pot to fit birdproof covers. That's what I wanted the roofing ladder for really - to fit some homebrew (chicken!) wire guards over the chimneypots.

[Parish]

For some reason, the sweep we got didn't fit them, but he recommended someone - £80 - fortunately, we only have one pot. Guess we could have got one cheaper, but we needed it quickly.

Regards,

Parish