then there were 3

[grindle]

I was watching a family of great tits through the window, they were being taught how to feed, had to take these through the window so I didn't disturb them

[Lou78W]

Haven't they come out well?....well caught Grindle ;D

[cowslip]

Aaaah lovely

[grindle]

Much better than I though Lou

[Cherry]

They are lovely Grindle. (Must clean my windows.)

[Fractal]

They are little smashers.

I let my cat Gandalf out this morning......into a family of Great Tit's with their three chicks!!! (unknowingly of course). He clocked where the cheeping was coming from and shot out of the door on his belly (like Tom, from Tom & Jerry). I shot out after him when I realised the situation, clapping to get them away. Thankfully, they all flitted away

He's a lovely cat but but unfortunately is still hard wired to react on his instinct to feed and survive irrespective of all the food I give him....

[Geranium]

What lovely photos - I was thinking the same as Cherry - note to self, must clean windows.

I'd like to borrow SteveN's cat, please. I spotted a rat under the bird table yesterday, and he was back today. I got OH to place the rat trap out there again, as Henry is hopeless at catching or even taking any notice of such critters. I can tolerate mice in the garden, but not rats.

[Louise]

Great pictures Grindle

[wildlifefriendly]

Lovely photos grindle, my fledglings are far more stupid, I've spent the last few days rescuing them from the greenhouse

[Fractal]

All rodents have disappeared since I got Gandalf. Unfortunately, the cute mouse that used to live in the garden under a paving stone went soon after his residence here. I used to watch it shoot across the garden into next doors and reappear 30 seconds later with a peanut in its mouth and take it under the paving stone to cache. Sad that it was only trying to live too

Not a fan of rats here though, at least NIMBY. I do respect them and they are fascinating and much maligned creatures....

[Geranium]

I can't bear to see them in the garden. Next door have gone too far though - they stopped making their own compost, as they say it attracts rats. I won't mention 'our' rat to them, or they'll start telling me it's my compost bins doing it!

[grindle]

I do hope they all survive, it's cat alley here

[merlin]

;)I thought that Countryfile covered the debate fairly last night on the reduction of garden birds. They gave air time to both points of view. I think that nature should do what's natural. The problem is that what we do isn't. We interfere with 'Nature' so we need to intervene. In the film the 'quarry' was perfect for all birds ect. as it was wild. Our gardens on the other hand are Man-made, even Woman-made. Because of this interference with the balance problems occur. Over the years I've encouraged garden birds especially tits but this has attracted the dreaded Magpies, now we have little else

[Cherry]

Is that where I saw magpies being trapped and disposed of? We need them here as they keep the farm clean. The RSPB did not approve of these methods. The balance is right here in this area.

[merlin]

Yes Cherry and the programme gave fair coverage. I doubt that the Nation will ever agree on this but if they only cull where there's a problem it may be right. Last night they said that farmland birds are suffering worse than garden birds.