Will Aniseed draw out the Underscar Red Squirrels?

Young wildlife explorers, Ben and Matthew, joined me again at Underscar to carry on with their red squirrel investigations.

A camouflaged Matthew chooses the wall where he can look straight onto the patio of Grange Apartment. Behind, Ben looks for a good vantage point.

We had read an article in The Westmorland Gazette which stated that red squirrels were having a ball at a Lake District holiday park since aniseed was introduced to their feeding mix.

Matthew and Ben thought that this theory could be worth testing out with our Underscar Red Squirrel colony. Grange patio was set up with two feeding stations. The feeding station with the hazelnuts inside the log was treated with aniseed. The feeding station with the hazelnuts inside the coconut shape was left untreated with aniseed.

We were able to find all our materials to set this up from the woodland walk.

Matthew uses the aniseed spray to treat the top and inside of the log.

Our first visitor ( A Dunnock) seems interested in the hazelnuts.

We then get into a vantage point where we think we can sit and wait and observe for some length of time.

You can just make out that Matthew has some camouflage face paints to help break up his outline.

Ben is ready to get that photo using a camouflage sheet to part cover up.

This red squirrel prefers its hazelnut treated with aniseed as it comes back to the feeder many times.

We notice the red flash going through its tail.

The red squirrel is so keen to get its hazelnut from the treated feeder that it sneaks right inside.

On looking back through our record of red squirrel photos we see that we had captured a photo of this red squirrel when it was just a kit (baby red squirrel).

This red squirrel was a baby last year.It has fended and foraged for itself well to make it into its second year.

We decided that the aniseed worked well in the feeder. During the testing out of this we experienced wet weather. Most of the text book information on red squirrels states that they are less active on cold,wet or windy days. The Underscar squirrels disprove this often visiting during heavy downpours.

Using its tail as an umbrella.This time it is taking a hazelnut from the other end of the log.

On speaking with Ben and Matthew we thought it would be a good idea to place a cuddly red squirrel in the reception area.

Here he is. Meet Oxley - our cuddly little red squirrel friend.You can take him out with you on your adventures, then write in the book and tell us about your day.

Matthew took him out on an adventure with all his family. His grandma managed to find another Oxley while they were out; so Matthew can now go home with his own Oxley.

Looking back over our red squirrel photos, I chose one which I thought looks like Oxley.

Thank you, Ben and Matthew, for your help again.

Up close and personal.

Underscar red squirrels make for great subjects to photograph. I set up in June a special coconut feeder on the pine tree at the top of the woodland walk.

Through observing and studying red squirrels for such a long time,you begin to see their different personalities. One may be bold and mischievous, whilst another may be cautious and shy.I was lucky within the hour a bold squirrel was investigating this new object.

It was so carried away with acquiring its preferred hazelnut that it allowed me to get up close and personal to keep clicking away with my camera.

The details can be seen in this red squirrel's claws as it selects exactly the hazelnut it desires.

                     Beyond a hazelnut's shell there is a tasty kernel to be eaten.

With a perfect branch to balance on this red squirrel was quite contented to let me stay up close and personal. I took many photos and it was possible for me to make every image different from the last.

Oh dear all the nuts have disappeared.

Thank-you for the refill.

Now which one shall I choose?

At the end of the afternoon I returned to the woodland walk and this same bold red squirrel was still bounding down the wall to its coconut feeder.The distinctive deeper russet coloured stripe down the centre of its back makes it easy identifiable.

I hope if you visit Underscar this summer you will spot "STRIPE."

Maria's Blog: Pin Badges For Underscar.

Maria's Blog: Pin Badges For Underscar.: We are very lucky to have a red squirrel colony on the Underscar Estate.These beautiful creatures are a delight to watch and if you have nev...

Pin Badges For Underscar.

We are very lucky to have a red squirrel colony on the Underscar Estate.These beautiful creatures are a delight to watch and if you have never seen a red squirrel before, your first sighting will be a moment to treasure.

They are naturally timid creatures, although the squirrel colony has grown used to the human visitors who share their space at Underscar.

Pauline and Derek Harrison previous owners of Underscar Manor were the first to coax the colony along through careful supplementary feeding. Now the couple are retired the Underscar family carry on this work.


I hope when Pauline and Derek still visit Underscar they will enjoy especially the sight of the squirrels clambering over the feeders with Underscar Manor as a backdrop. 

Pin badges are the latest addition to our red squirrel products at Underscar. Pin badges have now become fashion accessories.By wearing one of the Underscar red squirrel badges we are highlighting how we are trying to protect one of the many successful red squirrel colonies in Cumbria.This is how I wear my Underscar red squirrel badges.

Underscar has launched a competition for children and young people to design a squirrel pin badge. 

Wish you were here.

Due to their exceptional sense of balance and physique,red squirrels can explore every nook and cranny searching for hazelnuts.

Each August when we arrive at Underscar, I place a feeding log on Derwent Apartment patio. Hazelnuts are placed on top and inside the log.The red squirrels soon appear.

This squirrel perched on its hind legs watches carefully the walkway below checking to see if families are walking past on their way to the bistro or swimming pool. He decides to retrieve a nut from inside the log.

He chooses so carefully rejecting some. A very sensitive nose means he can determine whether food is still edible or has gone off, based on how it smells. I get lucky now as this red squirrel jumps onto the log to enjoy his hazelnut.

I was asked by a dad in the apartment above if I produced postcards as well as cards to raise money for the supplementary feeding of the Underscar red squirrel colony. His little boy wanted to send a card home to his grandma to say 'Wish you were here'. This pose seemed to fit the brief, so 500 of these cards will raise money this year, to keep the Underscar Red Squirrel Colony in good health.

This squirrel worked hard emptying all the nuts from the feeding log within an hour.

Their furry tail is almost as long as their entire body and helps them maintain their balance.

The postcards, badges, and cards can be found on reception at Oxleys. All monies raised provides supplementary feeding for the Underscar Red Squirrels. I would like to thank all the staff who make this supplementary feeding possible, and all the timeshare owners who purchase cards.

PUNK BIRDS.

January is the time to check out the heronry at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. On our way through the Park we are stopped in our tracks by two new sculptures. The Buddha provides a welcome jolt of colour when the clouds roll over.

The bronze figure is 9ft tall. The sculpture is called Network and is the biggest piece to date by British artist Tom Price.

Next stop is the heronry.This is an ideal nesting spot for the grey herons.No signs of any activity here yet.The chicks I observed last year are likely to rear their own chicks in these same trees.

It was the beginning of February last year when the herons started to check their nests out. It was fascinating to watch how they picked a spot to land and then walked along to the nest.

Their wingspan is as long as my arms. They are called the Lancaster Bomber of the bird world. They fly with wide methodical strokes all the time looking for a meal.Only this last year I have developed a really strong interest in studying them at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

It was lucky I could just see between the branches. At the beginning of May last year the chicks were begging for food. I watched frantic feeding frenzies where fish were regurgitated to the chick.

This is my favourite photo. The chicks are ridiculously gawky with punk hair. I think they are the most dishevelled chick you could see. I was lucky I could see the tassel on top of its head clearly.

Back to the heronry at the end of May and surprise --  "How you have grown."

The adult and chick always seemed to be looking the same way.

At the beginning of June the chicks have started to fish. They have a prehistoric look about them. I could easily imagine them back in prehistoric times.

The chick still has a bad hair day everyday.

Two weeks later this chick has moved into the lake to fish. I could'nt decide if this was just a practice run with the stick or if the chick is just a bad fisher! 

The grey heron can live along time ---- well over 25 years.I am looking forward to observing the cycle all over again this year.