Sparrowhawk

While we were doing the changeover at the cottage yesterday we noticed this magnificent sparrowhawk sitting in the aspen tree outside the lounge window. He was watching the bird feeders along the fence with anticipation but all the birds had seen him coming and were well away. He stayed for a while and dried himself off by fluffing out his tail feathers. The male sparrowhawk is quite smaller than the female of the species which is rather unusual in animal life.
While we were at the cottage we had arranged for two new bathroom blinds and a new vertical blind to be fitted in the main bedroom. As we were taking down the old fittings in the master bedroom a red squirrel ran along the fence during an interval in the showers and munched away at the peanut feeders. Unfortunately the fitter drew up in his van and this noise was enough to scare away Cyril the squirrel...but at least they are still about.

I lost my heart.....

This cheeky red squirrel is not content with all the peanuts we put out for him and has now found the sunflower hearts roundabout feeder. We had great fun watching him when he first tried to get across to the feeder and we weren't sure if it would take his weight, but it did. He now leaps easily across from the tree trunk and sits confidently eating for Scotland. His coat is a bit tatty as he is shedding his winter coat for a thinner summer one. In late summer they moult again and grow a thicker winter coat. Enjoy his antics.