On Monday I placed a half coconut filled with hazelnuts in one of the trees. We didn't have to wait long before a male squirrel discovered these. Ben thought it a good idea how I use double sided sticky tape to attach nuts onto the trailing tree branches. The male squirrel soon followed the trail to the coconut.
The ear tufts were very prominent on this red squirrel. These tufts are present for most of the year but are moulted in late summer and regrow in early autumn.
It is thought that the main function of these ear tufts is to keep the ears warm, and help circulation of the blood in a thin organ such as the ear.
This male squirrel stayed a few minutes enjoying its hazelnut. Its next nut it decided to carry to the top of the pillar wall at Grange. We got a really good view of the ear tufts.
On Wednesday we were rewarded for our patience as we all sat quietly observing a feeding log we had placed on Grange patio. A female red squirrel kept coming and going to cache the hazelnuts.
At the end of the week Ben thought it would be a good idea to place hazelnuts on the pillars at the top of Grange apartment steps. He was right, as we were able to entice this male squirrel with the hazelnuts.
Satisfied with its choice it runs away to cache it, to retrieve later.
On the last morning when Ben and Matthew came down to Grange patio they spotted a Wood Mouse.They thought themselves very lucky to see this as it is nocturnal. We were all amused how it was carrying away the hazelnuts we had left for the squirrels.
It was very brave creeping back to take hazelnut after hazelnut to its secret store.
With approximately one Wood Mouse for every two people in the UK, they are one of its most common small mammals.
We have all enjoyed our wild life exploring this week. Ben thinks that red squirrels rock, and Matthew says he just loves red squirrels.
I agree with Ben and Matthew. What amazing things to see, and what fabulous photos....as always.
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