Raiders of the bird feeders

So on my walk yesterday, I happened to chat with a neighbor down the alley and the subject turned to local critters. Specifically, the skunks that, I thought, had been removed from the area. Wrong. Furthermore, she pointed out a couple of pooping points used by marauding raccoons. I was reminded of the conversation while napping this evening -- there was a heavy scampering across my roof, then silence. It didn't sound like javelina hoofs; cats, dogs, ??? Maybe those raccoons romping?

All of which suggests another critter post. This time, a very particular sort of critter post, consisting entirely of bird and beast that have raided the feeders provisioned by friends Patty & Bob, with pictures by Bob. Number one, an acorn woodpecker filling his beak at the humming bird syrup works. But maybe he was eating one of the early bees who showed up en masse at the feeder many weeks later (below).

Patty had noticed that her bird seed was disappearing far too rapidly; then she discovered why. Little chipmunks, stuffing their cheeks with enough food for 25 birds.

But other critters also eat bird seed. Namely, this buck who was out very bright and early one morning to chow down. If you check the picture below carefully, you'll see an assistant buck (left) who has to wait his turn. Is that a raven in the background, also in line?

Thanks, Bob, for passing on a fine picture collection of Mountain Club denizens.

Comment Note: Jan has left a question at an old post (Miller Valley Empties); she asks if anyone rememers Walt's coffee shop. Old-timers??? BTW, I'm fascinated at how many comments that Miller Valley post has drawn; any Prescott folk reading this blog should revisit that old post.