Strange Bird

Our garden's full of birds, lots of different kinds. But here's a strange creature that I saw on the bird table today:

Yes, a four-legged one. A rat, in fact.

The old saying is that you're never more than a few feet away from a rat - - I can't remember how far it's supposed to be but ten feet sticks in my mind. And on this evidence, it's probably true.

Of course, there's always lots of bird food about in the garden so I don't think Ratty can be blamed for taking advantage of it and I shan't be trying to poison him unless he sets foot in the house, in which case he'll have me to reckon with.

Rats don't get a very good press. They are considered to be dirty, of course - and of course, many of them are, especially the ones that live in sewers. I think as well that there's something about their long, naked tails that people really don't like, though it's hard to pin down exactly what it is.

But I think they're quite interesting creatures really - more intelligent than many animals. They just provoke that knee-jerk "ewwwwwwwww" reaction in a lot of people.

Strange that I should see him today, in a way. On Friday I saw and enjoyed the animated film Ratatouille (very good fun and I did like the animated Paris - just like the real thing!) I haven't seen a real rat for years, and then suddenly, there he was.

I took the first photo through the closed kitchen window and when I opened the window to get a better look, Ratty made his excuses and left, though with no great haste, I must say.

I do like all the wildlife that pops up in the garden - - hedgehogs, foxes - - and I don't mind Ratty either, just as long as he stays outside.