Unexpected Visitor On The Bird Feeder

[sunny-dave]

Never seen a Pine Marten before - seems we have one living near our garden!!

https://ibb.co/980Df6b

https://ibb.co/gZrG35d

https://ibb.co/NsN6xKt

https://ibb.co/1qbRfLf

https://ibb.co/wrydDrJ

[david small]

Beautiful creatures. Elusive but wise to be so.

[sunny-dave]

This one likes Aldi Fruit Cake (put out for our tame Robin)

[sherrardk]

He’s lovely, look at his little ears!

[Mamyalynne]

Lucky you!

Seems they do like cake, I watched a programme where a Scottish tea shop owner put cakes out for them every afternoon and they never missed a day.

[sanmac]

Wow, lucky you. I've never seen one of those...Looks like she's a bit of a pole-dancer:)

[Barmaid]

Beautiful!

My non-feathered bird feeder visitors are either rats or tree rats.

[sanmac]

Now I know why I've never seen one (or even heard of them): they're only found in Europe.

[sunny-dave]

Not only beautiful, but highly efficient killing machines - as marten numbers are increasing, they are driving the invading grey squirrels back out of Ireland - whereas the smaller, nimbler, native red squirrels can co-exist with the martens.

[sunny-dave]

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/pine-marten-helping-red-squirrel-population-rebound-study-shows-1.4185385

[ladybirder]

That's very good news to hear Dave.

[hellywelly4]

Fantastic. How wonderful.

[sunny-dave]

I shall be making jam sandwiches at dusk ....

[Lie-in King]

That's fabulous, you are lucky :-)