The Hungry Squirrel

There is a place in the garden, by the side of an arch, where cowslips both yellow and orange grow with abandon, and weeds and grasses freely shoot up, here the grass can't be cut until the the cowslips have seeded.

In this same spot grow also periwinkles, clematis and and a beautiful yellow/orange trumpet vine (Campsis Radicans), here amid this wild growth, right in the midst of the tangle is where great tits chose to build their nest. The two of them were delightful to watch, then one day we only saw one bird going to and from the nest and knew that the other was brooding eggs.

Each day we watched the area waiting for the eggs to hatch. Then one morning with a sinking heart, I saw a squirrel exiting the small wilderness, and suddenly there were two agitated great tits flying to and fro, on and off the plants above and dropping down to where the nest had been.

Although their young were still only eggs, the parental feeling was already strong and the parents were fixated on their now raided nest and its precious contents.For the next three to four days they continued to search the area before giving up.

I felt very sad for them while also recognising that the squirrel meant no harm, he/she was only fulfilling his/her desire to feed. Warm eggs to a hungry squirrel on a cold day must have been wonderful. Is this any different to us eating hens and ducks eggs. Although I will never forget the distress of the great tits.