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There is something special about sunlight that breaks through at the end of a grey day.
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I marvel at it every time.
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My mind sees fabric patterns.
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Meanwhile on the patio, the all-day feast continued.
It was amazingly cordial…
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Till this wet chap lunged at Little Red.
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Usually it’s Red that is aggressive, but maybe grey tempers were frayed by the wetness.
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Red’s kids are feisty too.
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Any day after 3 pm now, Peanut comes trotting past.
She checks the patio for nuts and then continues on her way up to the groundhog hole behind the garage, Scooter’s Place.
In the afternoon, I go up with some nuts, but lately Peanut gets there first.
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She takes a path through the woods and soon she’s back by the old wall.
Yesterday she was nibbling beside a raccoon.
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The raccoon turned up a few days ago.
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Beneath her fluff, she’s very thin.
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When I rise early enough, I have time after rounds, to watch the breakfast club.
Usually, it is dominated by Little Red.
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On my way to Scooter’s Place I drop some corn and nuts on the old wheelbarrow and often when I come back down Little Red has arrived, so I stand and wait while she eats and chases all the others off.
Even if it’s raining.
Yesterday Red was elsewhere.
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Crows are very wary of Little Red but this duo seemed to have a tentative agreement.
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“Just don’t take more than your share!”
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“Keep your rotten nuts then!”
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“On the other hand…”
“A bird gets hungry, you know.”
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“Might even resort to grovelling…”
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“Starlings are here, time to go.”
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Abandoned take-off.
“Lady crow. Entitled to change mind.”
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Second sitting.
Bird vs groundhog.
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“Go on! Get in there while he’s not watching!”
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“Ummm…”
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“Let’s try a diplomatic approach.”
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“He said stuff it, we’ve got nothing to bargain with.”
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“We outnumber him!”
“Attack!”
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“Oh.”
Guessing the groundhog won that round.
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“Leftovers again.”
“We can do better than this!”
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“Thanks guys!”
“I’m not proud. Got kids to feed.”
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There’s a kink in our sky!
The skinny raccoon was by the apple tree earlier, so I threw some food on to the patio but it charged off into the woods.
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Peanut showed up early and took advantage.
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But not for long!
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Peanut said she’d come back later.
Why make waves?
Lots of action
Thank you, Carolyn, for the brilliant photos! It is amazing how all your creatures get on!
I think sunshine is magic, and your pictures prove it!
Joanna
You have a very amenable bunch!
You are so lucky to have such an entertaining variety of wildlife, Carolyn. It really rewards the effort you go to with your feeding regime.
Best wishes, Pete.
I think Little Red feels that your garden is actually her place and that all the other animals are just visitors … so, she has to keep everyone in their place. It’s amazing how the animals have their “time slots” to come and eat – and you’re lucky to see it all!