The weatherman said last night that spring is coming.  Really?  It’s hard to tell.  Yes, the snowdrops are flowering but that’s about all.  The daffodils that are often blooming for Valentine’s Day are still tightly closed and the furry pussy willow buds are nowhere to be seen. 

Winter Sky

Looking east to Rerrin and towards Bantry

But the birds think spring is in the air.  I watched a male blackbird chasing his female around the garden yesterday and then very noisily see off a competitor.  And feeding has become a frenzy during the most recent freezing weather.  I quess it must be mating and nesting time and so lots of energy needed.  So I finally made some fat balls for them.  I’ve been meaning to do this all winter and only just remembered!  Melted fat – lard and some pretty old butter – mixed with bird seed and poured into molds of some kind like yoghurt pots or cut up plastic bottle bases with twine threaded through the bottom work quite well.  Leave in the fridge overnight to set then pull the molds off and hang near the existing feeders.  So far so good.  I watched to see how long it would be before they were found and noticed a new bird I’d not seen before.  A redpoll I believe but whether it be a lesser redpoll  or a mealy redpoll  I cannot say!  Very pretty though with a pale buff coloured chest and a scarlet cap.  Soon the blue tits had found the fat balls and were happily feeding.

Goldfinches  

Later in the day I noticed Hercules prowling the area.  He does this regularly, sitting under the peanut feeders with the birds taking no notice.  But this time he had the scent of something more exciting!  FAT!  Having cleared the ground of crumbs he was up the tree, along the branch and reaching out to catch the fat ball which he began to eat!  As you can imagine, he was shouted at and removed along with what was left of the fat ball!  We now have to find somewhere that he can’t reach and the birds will find.  T. suggested we remove all his legs and build him a trolley.  I’m not convinced that would stop him!

At Rest!

Butter wouldn’t melt ……!