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I have a large lime tree in my garden which has had an owl box on it for years - no owls have ever nested in it although we have a good population of tawneys in the neighbourhood. Yesterday whilst out walking I noticed that my owl box had lots of small branches poking through the opening - very unusual I thought to myself. Whilst watching for the BGBW this morning I saw two red squirrels arguing over the peanut feeder and then later one of them at the very top of the lime tree looking as if it was collecting twigs. Never saw it reappear at the bottom of the tree...could it be preparing a drey in the nestbox? I know this is a bird forum but thought if you liked birds some of you may also have an interest in mammals....
thanks in advance for any insights
Hi Bridie
It could be squirrels using it.
On the Isle of Wight we only have Red Squirrels,what part of the world are you from?
Rachel
It's not always easy to hug a hedgehog.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't.
Thanks for your reply - I'm in Angus NE Scotland. I live in a small market town but have been feeding red squirrels for the last couple of years in my garden. We set up an obstacle course last year with the feeding box on a pole and a long length of 2x2 running from the lime tree to it. It was great fun watching the two reds scampering about the garden. This year the feeder is in the cherry tree - one uses it and the other seems to prefer prising peanuts from the bird feeder. They are fantastic creatures I could waste the whole day watching their antics.
Scotland is one of the few places for Red squirrels,I do not see many here though we live a stones throw from Parkhurst forest which does!
Hope to see some again soon.
Yes, Red Squirrels will use nestboxes, and will build their own dreys inside. What a fantastic thing to have in your garden!
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How wonderful. I am soooooooooooooo green