Here today, gone tomorrow

This morning I put 4 fresh fat balls in the bird feeder and by lunchtime it was down to one and a bit. As I write this there is only one left. Meanwhile in another feeder a slab of bird cake has also vanished. The bigger birds attack it from below, howking (to use a good Scots word) away at it but since they are such messy eaters, especially the pigeons, there is enough on the grass for the smaller birds to pick up.

I believe this rapid turnover of food is because the birds are busy getting nests ready and so prepared meals are at a premium.