Underscar: "November Baby."

Last week was spent in the Castlerigg Apartment at Underscar. The wall running by the side of this apartment gives me opportunity to observe the red squirrels coming to the feeder. I was thrilled every morning to see a November baby bounding up the wall.

                  This wall seems to be part of a lovely playground for the red squirrels.

This baby always seemed to be the first up the wall in the morning. I decided to call him 'Oxley!'

 Oxley will be about 12 weeks old. He is independent and can fend for himself , foraging for his own food. He will be from a second litter,which are born at the end of the summer.With the supplementary food given to the red squirrels at Underscar, it is no surprise that the females have two litters each year. A female will only achieve two litters if she is fit. Female red squirrels will not breed if they are not of a sufficient weight, or if food is scarce.

          Oxley clutches his chest as he surveys his adventure playground.

As I continue observing Oxley investigating his new playground, I am impressed by how he prepares to make a leap.

                    His ear tufts are blown back as he prepares for lift off.

                           Star jumper Oxley making his leap of faith. 

         He would spend a lot of time perfecting the angle he jumped from.

Midweek I noticed Oxley had a little sister with him. I decided to call her 'Skiddaw.'

          Skiddaw has fewer ear tufts and is far more cautious than Oxley.

She uses the same branch as Oxley but creeps further along before launching.

                             Skiddaw attempting a perfect landing


Capturing Oxley and Skiddaw in the air was a new venture for me. Watching them happily play chase was wonderful. The chasing was fast,and very vocal. At some point they would end up eating quietly at a safe distance apart on the boundary wall.