This homemade bird feeder needed a refill. Made it a few years ago, out of bits-n-bobs about the house/shed - two plant pot saucers that near enough fitted a suitable bowl; a short length of wooden dowel (or remnant of a broom handle); a couple of wood screws; and a little plastic block for forming corner joints between boards. Bit of string too, of course.

The food part's added ingredients were equal volumes of porridge oats, and a mixed bird see, bound together by mixing in melted lard, and then left to set. The bird seed being the no-grow variety, which the smaller birds can cope with. If there any peanuts, or other suitable things lying about, I'll throw some of them in too.

Local birdlife that have frequented the thing include: Titmice (Blue; Coal; Great; and Long-tailed varieties); Great-spotted Woodpecker; Starlings; Robin; and Blackbirds. The later more attempting to hover, and grab a bit of anything from it. A Treecreeper has been having a wee look from the wall behind, but I haven't seen it on the thing yet. May shorten the string to keep the greedy Starlings from standing on the top, and gorging themselves. Though one or two of have mastered the knack of hanging from it too.

The Siskins have arrived, as they always seem to at this time of year. They're always around about, but I suspect some of their favoured food source (possibly from Birch trees) tends to become more scarce. They then start to frequent various peanut, and seed feeders that we humans put out for them. They spent a fair amount of the day twittering away in the treetops, between visits to the local "offerings."

Cycled in to Inverness this afternoon, for a little shopping, and to be out in some lovely sunshine. Still darned cold though!