Red squirrels

Last weekend I spend a few hours in a red squirrel hide. Red squirrels is the main squirrel species here in Flanders (Belgium), in fact it was the only squirrel species until some years ago.

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Mario
http://severi.be/en
https://www.facebook.com/photographymarioseveri?ref=hl
 

DominoDude

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Feb 7, 2013
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candc said:
those are really nice shots, the red squirrels we have here in the u.s. don't have those comical ears. they look more annoyed than suprised but they are still entertaining to shoot.

I had this (http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=12203.msg262313#msg262313) posted last year. I was also guessing about the long tufts then in March, but in discussing it we came to the conclusion that it's part of the winter coat.

Quick edit:
@candc: The annoyed part have to be a global phenomena - a natural state of squirrels.
@Neuro: That's a mouthful and then some.
@both of you: Great shots!
 
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Jul 21, 2010
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DominoDude said:
candc said:
those are really nice shots, the red squirrels we have here in the u.s. don't have those comical ears. they look more annoyed than suprised but they are still entertaining to shoot.

I had this (http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=12203.msg262313#msg262313) posted last year. I was also guessing about the long tufts then in March, but in discussing it we came to the conclusion that it's part of the winter coat.

From the linked thread:

DominoDude said:
... a Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

The American red squirrel is a different genus and species: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus. I haven't seen ear tufts like that here, in any season.
 
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DominoDude

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Feb 7, 2013
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neuroanatomist said:
DominoDude said:
candc said:
those are really nice shots, the red squirrels we have here in the u.s. don't have those comical ears. they look more annoyed than suprised but they are still entertaining to shoot.

I had this (http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=12203.msg262313#msg262313) posted last year. I was also guessing about the long tufts then in March, but in discussing it we came to the conclusion that it's part of the winter coat.

From the linked thread:

DominoDude said:
... a Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

The American red squirrel is a different genus and species: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus. I haven't seen ear tufts like that here, in any season.

*nods* Indeed so. From the looks of it Mario and I have the same variant in Belgium and here in Sweden. Met a couple from New York who were here in August, and they wondered why I was so interested in the squirrels here. To them they were more of a "pest", and I think that goes for both the grey and the red squirrels. Ours (the red squirrel) have a slightly better reputation and behaviour, and it wins the sexy ear tuft award any winter.
 
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Don Haines

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Jun 4, 2012
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DominoDude said:
neuroanatomist said:
DominoDude said:
candc said:
those are really nice shots, the red squirrels we have here in the u.s. don't have those comical ears. they look more annoyed than suprised but they are still entertaining to shoot.

I had this (http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=12203.msg262313#msg262313) posted last year. I was also guessing about the long tufts then in March, but in discussing it we came to the conclusion that it's part of the winter coat.

From the linked thread:

DominoDude said:
... a Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

The American red squirrel is a different genus and species: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus. I haven't seen ear tufts like that here, in any season.

*nods* Indeed so. From the looks of it Mario and I have the same variant in Belgium and here in Sweden. Met a couple from New York who were here in August, and they wondered why I was so interested in the squirrels here. To them they were more of a "pest", and I think that goes for both the grey and the red squirrels. Ours (the red squirrel) have a slightly better reputation and behaviour, and it wins the sexy ear tuft award any winter.
I have red, black, grey, and flying squirrels here...... you can't make a bird feeder flying squirrel proof....
 
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Here on the Isle of Wight we only have Reds, I know several other locations in the UK are trying to reintroduce the Red which I believe is the native squirrel to the UK. The Greys somehow got into the UK & almost totally wiped out our Reds & for a long time we on the IOW & Brown Sea Island in Poole were the only natural habitats left.
I took these a few years ago in my back garden its the only time in the 44 years that I have lived in this house that I've seen a Squirrel in my garden & it only stayed for maybe 5 minutes. :(
They are not perfect by any means as the lens AFMA was way off. :-[
 

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Thanks everyone for joining this thread, very nice pictures.

I didn't know there was a red squirrel species without the fluffy ears ;D.

Since a few years there are also grey squirrels in Belgium, if I am not mistaken they are the US species and originate from animals that escaped. They are more aggressive than our own red squirrels and seem to drive back the red squirrel population.

Mario
 
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