Feeding Time!

Well I took loads of food into the forest today with the intention of giving the birds a feast!
It didn't take long for the usual suspects to show up, but what I was really looking for was a Great Spotted Woodpecker to show in the snow. I could hear them drumming the trees nearby, but they were too busy and didn't put in an appearance.

Some of the birds, which did show up...


Female Blackbird


Nuthatch


Jay


Robin


And a Pigeon



Something caught my eye, but it was so quick I couldn't make out what it was, so I focused my attention on the area waiting to see if it would show again, whatever it was.
Then I saw it, a tiny wood mouse peeking out from a crevice in the tree. I took a few snaps, but I was too far away to get a decent shot, so I moved in to see how close I could get.
With the temperature dropping in the area to -7 at night and with snow on the ground, this little mouse braved the snow to come within a few inches of me; pinching peanuts before scampering off back to the safety of the crevice.
Then another one turned up and another! Three wood mice, I couldn't believe it, but at least they have enough peanuts to see them through the bad weather now.

Here are two of the wood mice. I was too far away for a decent photo, so I moved in closer!


Now closer (a lot closer) I waited for one to peek over the top.


He watched me for a second or two before risking it and scampering towards the peanuts.


He grabs a peanut!


He hasn't eaten the peanut, it is in his cheek pouch!



I decided to re-focus on the birds, but I had a problem, a big problem!
A sheep decided to jump up on the fallen tree and she started to eat the bird food. I scared her off a few times, but she kept coming back. It was hopeless, so I called it a day.



Rob