Today was unique in that there was a big gray squirrel wrapped around one of the feeders. The big gray ones are big enough to do that. In the feeder next to that one was a tiny red squirrel — a perfect little guy in bright autumn colors. Never have I seen these two kinds of squirrel right next to one another on adjacent feeders, but they must have made a deal. I wanted to get a shot of both of them just about touching each other but I couldn’t get them into one frame.
I could not get a single picture of the big grey one. He was effectively hidden by the feeder but I got some almost-perfect shots of the little red one These little ones are about the same size as flying squirrels — except for the non-flying part.
Share this:
Categories: #animals, #FallFoliage, #gallery, #Photography, #Squirrel, Anecdote, Autumn, Blackstone Valley
SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
Stunning captures Marilyn, l so love squirrels. I used to have several pairs of different squirrel species many years ago, and despite the pretty colours of many of them, l still loved the greys – l love also seeing the reds and we don’t see many here in kent though. They are only in a few places in the UK. I used to live on the Isle of Wight and they were present there. Such lovely characters, although greys are so much animated here.
LikeLike
The red ones are gradually disappearing. The big gray ones are more aggressive and big enough to push the red ones out of the way. Right here, maybe because we feed them, we have more of the red ones. They also breed nearby because we see the babies when they have just come out of the nest. They are all adorable, including the flying ones. But, there is only so much food available, so the bigger, stronger ones get more of the available food, though the little red ones can be surprisingly tough.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The reason we don’t have them in many parts of the UK is because the grey ones are as you say bigger and more aggressive and they boisterously pushed the reds out.
So now the majority of the red populations are as we say north of the border and found in Scotland.
LikeLike
Here, I think you mostly find the red ones in places like this where people feed them. Otherwise, the big grey ones win by default. I suppose because I feed them, there’s more than enough food for both, so the both are flourishing. In most places, though, the red ones are not thriving.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So cute! And those tiny hands…!
LikeLike
These red ones are really TINY, no bigger than chipmunks. This one was probably young and not quite full grown, but even fully grown, they are less than half the size of the big gray ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s so cute! Great that you managed to capture him so well 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you. It was a piece of luck. Sometimes, the angle is right when the lens is fully extended. I don’t have time to focus when I’m taking pictures of the wild things, so I open up the lens fully and hope it works out. Usually, it’s just a wee bit “soft.” But I discovered that taking the time to focus always means I miss the shot, so I extend the lens, try to get the best framing I can, and hope it works out. This time, it worked out well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It definitely did!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I very rarely see the tiny red ones (the greys all of the time!). In the last couple of months I have started seeing them almost every day in the same place as I walk the dogs. This time of year they are all over those black walnuts falling from the tree they are under. They are cute.
LikeLike
They are awfully cute. I hope they are making a comeback. They have been disappearing as the big grey ones are much bigger and get to the food faster. But the little red ones are still with us. I hope there’s room for both of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Truly a cute fella!
LikeLike
And such a pretty face 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
So precious! Love the shots. I presume this is not a bird feeder…
LikeLike
It IS a feeder, though it’s an open feeder, so it feeds the bigger birds, both kind of squirrel plus the chipmunks and I’m guessing the raccoons and flying squirrels at night. It’s the “come one, come all” feeder 🙂
LikeLike
So cute.
LikeLike
Aren’t they? Those tiny little hand holding a seed 🌱
LikeLiked by 1 person
🥰
LikeLike
You did get a bunch of great shots of the little red squirrel. It’s almost as if he wanted you to watch him eating.
LikeLike
He certainly saw me. We’ve been feeding the crowds for a while and they aren’t afraid of us or at least not much. If we make a lot of noise, they get spooked but mostly, they will come and eat even while I’m feeding them, though they won’t linger long until I go inside.
Sometimes I think they are asking to come in for a better (bigger?) dinner!
LikeLike