SlodgerBlog

I regularly put out seeds and raisins on our bird table and we see a wide range of birds including robins, blackbirds, blue tits, great tits, coal tits, collared doves and wood pigeons, plus the usual flock of starlings!

As the weather has gone colder I have supplemented this diet with peanuts which has had the added benefit of attracting squirrels to the garden.

We are now regularly visited by three squirrels, two adults and a younsgter, who have learned how to climb our squirrel-proof bird table pole and get onto the table itself, where they sit and happily stuff themselves with the peanuts. They do not tolerate each other’s presence very much, however, and chase each other at high speed around the garden if they get too close.

As they are now familiar with the garden and our movements insite the house I decided to put some peanuts on the ground outside the patio doors next to where I sit in my study. This has two advantages, firstly I get to see the squirrels very close (about 3 feet away) and secondly, there are two places to feed so two squirrels can be in the garden at the same time.

The only problem now is that I have to replenish the peanuts at least daily or the squirrels arrive and look around hopefully where the peanuts should be.

My daughter Jennifer has named the adults Peanut and Acorn but hasn’t yet decided on a name for the youngster.

Here’s a short video clip of Acorn (I think - it could be Peanut!).