Is this a sensor or camera?

[Alex88]

Bit of an odd one, chaps, but would anyone happen to know what this device is above the traffic light?

https://www.google.com/maps/@52.016071, ... 312!8i6656

Only asking because matey reckons that the council use it as CCTV. I told him that's bollocks.

[DeskJockey]

Definitely a thingamabob.

[dinny_g]

No it’s a Wokeamajig…

[Alex88]

It all makes sense now

[DeskJockey]

@dinny_g are you sure? I thought they had two wires coming out of them?

[Mito Man]

I was going to say maybe an IR sensor but they’re usually a rectangular box and the light across from it has one of those and this thingamajig too.
It’s not big enough to be a council grade camera.

[dinny_g]

@dinny_g are you sure? I thought they had two wires coming out of them?

[GG.]

Looks like a webcam circa 2000. On top of a birds nest.

[mik]

That's one of them nodding birds.

But it's saluting. Presumably to The Queen at the point of erec.... fitment, and now presumably to The King.

[nuttinnew]

[JonMad]

The Aug 2020 street view shot makes it look more camera-ish

[jamcg]

Camera. If it was a sensor they’d be 2 on each side and on every other crossing light

[Swervin_Mervin]

It's an on-crossing detector for the pedestrian phase

ETA: Actually maybe it isn't as it isn't pointing at the crossing on that side! Will be a detector of some sort, but traffic phases are usually dealt with via inductive loops. I can't see any inductive loops int he carriageway though so maybe it is a traffic detector.

[jamcg]

Check for camera detection. Look out for cameras at intersections, which can detect the presence of cars waiting and signal the lights to begin changing.
Find cameras of this type mounted to posts and beams at the intersection, near the traffic lights themselves.
These cameras can also be used to take photos of illegal traffic activity, or they may perform both functions.