Well, the Field Mice have been multiplying, and there are now two families regularly coming to the scattered peanuts I put out for the birds each day. The original family of field/wood mice under the summerhouse are still there, and are distinct from the new family, who live under the patio slabs, by being somewhat larger, and less timid.

The newcomers are quite small, possibly the "ejected" litter of the summerhouse ones. They pop up through a hole in the cement grouting between a couple of patio slabs, and I notice that even when the summerhouse family are out, neither set of mice meet up. Fascinating watching them forage - they're SO quick! Dashing out of cover, or up from the slabs, grab a nut of sunflower seed and dash back.

However... the past couple of days has seen a lot of heavy rain, and today, only the summerhouse mice were foraging... Have the patio mice been flooded out?  Who knows... but I'll keep watching through the lounge windows to see "the next thrilling instalment of Mouse Manor!"

Did you know that A Field Mouse is also known as a Wood Mouse?

We've added to our back garden managerie, now, ... a family of Wood Mice have moved in under our summerhouse plinth (concrete), making a burrow that comes out against the garden fence. So one or other of them comes foraging under the bird table at various times during the day. This morning, I was out there in the lovely morning sunshine (oh I DO love retirement!), filling up the hanging bird feeders and spreading a few peanuts on the flagstones ready for the collared doves and "Woody" Woodpigeon, and out came the adult male Wood Mouse! His huge, jet-black, bead-like eyes spotted me and he stopped ... so I stopped... both of us stock-still...

Who will move first? Bound to be me, as I can't stay as still as a mouse! But no, he moved - right up to my feet, grabbed a peanut and scrambled for the gap under the summerhouse! Aah... so sweet! So I put a few nuts down near where he comes out, that way he won't have to be in the open for so long... Yeah, I know, you silly, soft, old ##**!!... ain't I that one!! ;-)