Not again!

During the very cold spell I removed the squirrel-proof baffle from the fat ball feeder so that the birds could more easily feast on the fat balls to help keep them warm. However, yesterday afternoon my husband saw a squirrel reach down into the feeder and grab a whole fat ball from the top of the pile and dart off up the trunk of the oak tree. We’ve had this before, and I’ve blipped it too, so I wasn’t totally surprised. The squirrels haven’t been much in evidence lately, but all that has now changed since they spotted their chance to gorge on the fat balls! 

We’ve watched one help himself two or three times today, and the final straw was this afternoon when we saw him reach right down to the bottom of the feeder and pull out the last fat ball – he must be a juvenile to be slim enough to do that – and ran up the oak tree trunk with the fat ball clasped in one paw. Here he is, tucking into it while sitting on one of the branches. I’m afraid I thwarted any further attempts by replacing the squirrel-proof baffle when I topped up the feeder.

This afternoon we went out for our first walk since before the snow came, delivering some very local Christmas cards, but it seems we’ve both become very unfit.  We were really puffing as we trudged back up our road, and felt exhausted when we got home. A renewed programme of fresh air and exercise is called for!