Obviously it was Ptolemy. Or maybe he has bored children. There’ s not much for teenaged pheasants to do in rural Devon. I don’ t suppose there are even any telephone boxes left for them to wreck.
Well, he has been around today so clearly he’s a suspect. First time in ages because he has been otherwise engaged in the shrubbery. Missus and kids keeping him busy without a doubt.
Highly likely. A gang of four at the last count. And tetchy. It’s easy to imagine a fight breaking out and the bird table caught in the crossfire. Mike had to retrieve that cone from half way down the terraces the other day.
I’m thinking a highly planned combined effort … mice and squirrels in camouflage gear, working together under cover of darkness, with pheasants and woodpeckers standing by to give covering fire if needed?
They forgot that the bird feeder has now had virtually all its parts replaced with reinforced steel, a bit like being assimilated by the Borg. They may have got it to the ground but it’s impenetrable.
A crow could do damage with that beak. I’ve had Wagtails finding the wing mirrors, they stand on the ridge between the window and the door, pecking at their reflections and scratching the paint with their feet.
The squirrels are a problem. When they start attacking us in groups of four I don’t know where we go with it. Amusing though, to see Mike go after them with the water pistol. They scatter off in four different directions..
I’ve been tempted for ages to get one of those wildlife field cameras, they have night vision as well. Expensive, but we would learn a lot more about the animals that visit the garden.
He says its a big job. I’ve asked for a temporary fix in the hope that it can jump the workshop queue. The birds are standing on the precipice and looking down at where the feeders used to be.. with big question marks over their heads. And I’m missing the baby woodpeckers already.
My bets is on a raccoon…they can do lots of damage…
Do you have raccoons in Britain? Or not!
Must be a gang of something…geesh!
Good luck!
Cheers!
Happy weekend…
Linda :o)
Obviously the Beast of Bodmin has heard that you have plenty of food in your garden and has come visiting! Squirrels are so destructive so it could be them, pity we can’t train them to do something useful!
Now there’s a thought. Squirrels are quite intelligent, though it pains me to admit it. I wonder what tasks they could be persuaded to perform in exchange for legitimate food?
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you just destroy the table they provide instead! Something big and determined I would guess….oh and probably was hungry!
The chamomile directly under the feeders is looking a bit ragged, all the pecking, but the rest are holding up. I was looking at it the other day thinking I need to trim it back, the thymes are beginning to flop.
If you were in New Zealand I’d be guessing Keas – they will strip anything. They are destructive pests and will frequently loosen car windscreens up on the ski-fields by pulling out the rubber edging! Our “junior Scouts” – for boys (and girls in these enlightened days) are called Keas – a very good name for 6-8 year old boys don’tcha fink!
I had to look that one up. Is it related to the parrot? It looks a lot like it from the shape of the head and beak. There is a lovely image on google of one gnawing away at a car aerial, so I get the drift!
Beer chugging space weasels. They are to blame for every foul deed that happens in the garden. Unfortunately, they’re hard to get rid of. But if you plug in some party lights and put out some munchies at your neighbors house, they might leave you alone. Good luck and keep us posted.
My bet is on soggy corners. The end of the piece of wood which has come away does seem very wet. Our ‘Mark III’ has sides pieces that do not quite meet at the corners, allowing surface water to run away (and the top is made of one piece of marine ply). Hooks are screwed into the supporting bars underneath, where they do not get wet. It’s an expensive business, making bird tables for high-rainfall areas!
I think you may have something there. The bird table has developed a list, thanks to the pheasant, in the direction of that corner. But I’m pleased to report we’re fully operational again as of today. Mike has replaced the side piece and it’s much more solid now. And unfortunately for the squirrels the twirler survived its crash to the ground too. We’ve had it working this afternoon and it’s been hilarious.
The squirrels, if indeed it was they, are really ganging up on us this year. They must have benefitted from the mild winter too, there seem to be many more of them about. Grrrr.
I’d be pretty confident it was a fox. I went outside early one morning and was just in time to see a fox leaping from my bird table, leaving it in a similar condition to yours. It looked like it was going for the feeders. I’d seen it a couple of times underneath it, hoovering up any seeds or peanuts that had been dropped by the birds, but it hadn’t occurred to me it would manage to get on the table until I saw it with my own eyes.
You could be right. I’ve seen a fox here, even in broad daylight. And in the morning often find poop quite close to the bird table. Amazing that yours managed to climb up though! Unless I fork out for one of those wildlife cameras I guess we’ll never know.
It’s a concerted effort from the anti-squirrel-twirlers network…
It was my first thought too.
Hello Jessica:
A squirrel? A rat? [trust not]. A very large, over weight bird, made fat on the good food you supply? Who knows? Or simply a strong wind!
We have had wind and rain.. in abundance!
Woodpecker? The Magpies here are very destructive too but not as bad as the rain we’ve just had which has flattened EVERYTHING!
Now I hadn’t thought of woodpeckers. One of the babies doing a bit of hammering practice perhaps? Plenty of flattened plants here too 🙁
Obviously it was Ptolemy. Or maybe he has bored children. There’ s not much for teenaged pheasants to do in rural Devon. I don’ t suppose there are even any telephone boxes left for them to wreck.
Well, he has been around today so clearly he’s a suspect. First time in ages because he has been otherwise engaged in the shrubbery. Missus and kids keeping him busy without a doubt.
Squirrels?
Highly likely. A gang of four at the last count. And tetchy. It’s easy to imagine a fight breaking out and the bird table caught in the crossfire. Mike had to retrieve that cone from half way down the terraces the other day.
I’m thinking a highly planned combined effort … mice and squirrels in camouflage gear, working together under cover of darkness, with pheasants and woodpeckers standing by to give covering fire if needed?
They forgot that the bird feeder has now had virtually all its parts replaced with reinforced steel, a bit like being assimilated by the Borg. They may have got it to the ground but it’s impenetrable.
Whatever it was, it’s plotting against you. I don’t think you’ll ever be on top of the wildlife in your garden, they’ve got their own ideas.
Nope, I think you’re right. They remind me every day that they were here first.
Well I’ve just caught a Crow trying to peck his way into my car, he must have spotted his reflection, or maybe he just wanted to borrow the Sat Nav 🙂
I don’t know what you’re going to do with those pesky squirrels, it’s been an on-going problem for ages now hasn’t it
A crow could do damage with that beak. I’ve had Wagtails finding the wing mirrors, they stand on the ridge between the window and the door, pecking at their reflections and scratching the paint with their feet.
The squirrels are a problem. When they start attacking us in groups of four I don’t know where we go with it. Amusing though, to see Mike go after them with the water pistol. They scatter off in four different directions..
Ha ha a similar thing happened to our old bird table and it was one of next door’s cats… so do you have any fat cats living near by or perhaps a fox?
No cats, foxes definitely.
Hm-m-m what ever could it be … a squirrel, a cat, another critter … wonder if you will ever find out?
I’ve been tempted for ages to get one of those wildlife field cameras, they have night vision as well. Expensive, but we would learn a lot more about the animals that visit the garden.
Oh dear Jessica! it looks as if poor Mike will have to get out his tool box again.
He says its a big job. I’ve asked for a temporary fix in the hope that it can jump the workshop queue. The birds are standing on the precipice and looking down at where the feeders used to be.. with big question marks over their heads. And I’m missing the baby woodpeckers already.
My bets is on a raccoon…they can do lots of damage…
Do you have raccoons in Britain? Or not!
Must be a gang of something…geesh!
Good luck!
Cheers!
Happy weekend…
Linda :o)
No raccoons. But if we did have you can bet they would be here, everything else seems to be.
Obviously the Beast of Bodmin has heard that you have plenty of food in your garden and has come visiting! Squirrels are so destructive so it could be them, pity we can’t train them to do something useful!
Now there’s a thought. Squirrels are quite intelligent, though it pains me to admit it. I wonder what tasks they could be persuaded to perform in exchange for legitimate food?
A poor throw of Mjollnir by Thor?
Wasn’t Thor associated with thunder?
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you just destroy the table they provide instead! Something big and determined I would guess….oh and probably was hungry!
Mike is working on a Mark 2 bird table, the old one was a bit rotten it has to be said.
I agree with Gigibird fox or cat!
I haven’t seen any cats around, but of course they could be out at night. Unless we really do have a ‘Beast’..
oh, Ptolemy…..you need to be a bit sneakier, you old bird, you. (Don’t you love having a scapegoat — for everything??!!)
Poor Freddy..
Hucknall!!! xx
Awwww.. the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Pheasant?
He has ‘previous’ on the bird table does he not.
oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,
well they give you lots of fuel for blog posts ……..
the plants/herb garden under neath look good, hope none were damaged, Frances
The chamomile directly under the feeders is looking a bit ragged, all the pecking, but the rest are holding up. I was looking at it the other day thinking I need to trim it back, the thymes are beginning to flop.
If you were in New Zealand I’d be guessing Keas – they will strip anything. They are destructive pests and will frequently loosen car windscreens up on the ski-fields by pulling out the rubber edging! Our “junior Scouts” – for boys (and girls in these enlightened days) are called Keas – a very good name for 6-8 year old boys don’tcha fink!
I had to look that one up. Is it related to the parrot? It looks a lot like it from the shape of the head and beak. There is a lovely image on google of one gnawing away at a car aerial, so I get the drift!
Beer chugging space weasels. They are to blame for every foul deed that happens in the garden. Unfortunately, they’re hard to get rid of. But if you plug in some party lights and put out some munchies at your neighbors house, they might leave you alone. Good luck and keep us posted.
Your squirrels drink beer too? As well as the slugs? It’s party time all round at your place. Our neighbour shoots them, unfortunately.
You have really raised my curiosity, I have no idea what could have done that.
I’m guessing squirrels Charlie. A gang of four that having been getting increasingly bad tempered with each other. Fights have started to break out.
Isn’t gardening no end of fun?
Sometimes…! Best of luck this weekend, wish I was nearer.
I think you should give your garden up to Springwatch next year!!!
I would give up the squirrels if they wanted them, gladly. They could have them for Autumnwatch too.
My bet is on soggy corners. The end of the piece of wood which has come away does seem very wet. Our ‘Mark III’ has sides pieces that do not quite meet at the corners, allowing surface water to run away (and the top is made of one piece of marine ply). Hooks are screwed into the supporting bars underneath, where they do not get wet. It’s an expensive business, making bird tables for high-rainfall areas!
I think you may have something there. The bird table has developed a list, thanks to the pheasant, in the direction of that corner. But I’m pleased to report we’re fully operational again as of today. Mike has replaced the side piece and it’s much more solid now. And unfortunately for the squirrels the twirler survived its crash to the ground too. We’ve had it working this afternoon and it’s been hilarious.
Oh no, did a huge flock descend at once. I know Starlings are the most destructive force in my garden, well apart from the snails!
Snails have just started nibbling at the sempervivum I pushed into a crack half way up a dry stone wall… I’d put nothing past them!
Oh dear, best guess is a squirrel although I saw a big fat rat climb up onto the top of our bird feeder the other day at dusk – not a nice sight!
Not a nice sight at all. I’ve never seen rats here, but that’s not to say there aren’t any, I suspect they just keep themselves well hidden.
whatever it was it caused some damage !
Hi Penny, it did.. Mike had to replace the whole right side of the bird table.
I would blame squirrels too – but then I’ve had it in for them ever since they ate our entire unripe strawberry crop a few years ago.
That really is taking liberties. I think that would have prompted me into borrowing next door’s gun.
If you were on this side of the pond I would say bear. I don’t think you have bear in the UK anymore do you?
Only in a zoo 🙁
Oh dear! Apart from the gardening what challenges you face down your way!
The squirrels, if indeed it was they, are really ganging up on us this year. They must have benefitted from the mild winter too, there seem to be many more of them about. Grrrr.
I’d be pretty confident it was a fox. I went outside early one morning and was just in time to see a fox leaping from my bird table, leaving it in a similar condition to yours. It looked like it was going for the feeders. I’d seen it a couple of times underneath it, hoovering up any seeds or peanuts that had been dropped by the birds, but it hadn’t occurred to me it would manage to get on the table until I saw it with my own eyes.
You could be right. I’ve seen a fox here, even in broad daylight. And in the morning often find poop quite close to the bird table. Amazing that yours managed to climb up though! Unless I fork out for one of those wildlife cameras I guess we’ll never know.
SQUIRREL!!!!
More than one..