Squirrel Feeder

I returned home yesterday after a weekend in southern California and went to check on my new metal squirrel feeder outside the kitchen window. The food seemed untouched ... sunflower seeds and peanuts (sans shells) ... so I was a little dismayed that the squirrels hadn't figured out how to access the buffet yet!
This afternoon I was unloading my shopping when I saw movement around the feeder and spotted one of the little furry creatures inside the metal feeder. I dashed upstairs for my camera and managed to catch this shot ...

I could barely see him inside the feeder but there was a big furry clue as to his whereabouts!
He must have seen me move because he jumped out and landed on the deck railing. I attempted to get a photo of him coming out but he moved so fast ... anyway, hoping he'd reconsider, I froze! He decided he wasn't finished eating yet and jumped up again, as easy as pie. In one flash, he was on the feeder, lid was raised and he was inside .. this time without the tail hanging out ...


If you look closely, you can just make him out ... my first thought was "what if he poops on the food" ... but not knowing how well 'housetrained' they are, I was hopeful that he'd ingest and not egest his snack.