There was a visitor in the garden today. A dark-eyed rogue perched on the bird table nibbling in a charming manner.
Great table etiquette - a little of this, not too much of that, all eaten in a very tidy way.
He saw me approaching and at first ignored me, but eventually leapt into the cherry tree from where I thought he would scoot across the other gardens and disappear.
After a few seconds a bushy tail appeared around the tree trunk and shook vigorously in my direction.
Having failed to frighten me away, a small face peeped around, decided I was no threat and returned to his feast.
While I was charmed by the novelty of having a squirrel in the garden, my partner was not and ran up the path clapping his hands and shooing it away.
He's right of course.
It's a rat with a tail and will only steal the eggs and nestlings from any bird nests in the spring.
But for the moment I don't mind if he makes an occasional return and shares the bird seed with the starlings and sparrows....as long as he doesn't tell his friends.
