Autumn is the time when all red squirrels deliberately put on weight. It is as if they are suddenly given permission to grow as fat as they can, as fast as they can!
Sunday 28th October saw the red squirrels at Underscar eating as much as they could from our patio feeders. They weren't deterred by heavy rain all day and returned for seconds, thirds and even fourth helpings to put on fat reserves for the winter. They put on about 12% of their body weight in autumn fat.
The squirrels did a lot of weighing and shaking the hazelnuts in their paws before choosing one. They certainly can tell a good nut from a rotten one. If the nut rattles, the kernel is likely to be small and shrivelled, and not worth eating.
Good luck Underscar squirrels in remembering in the winter where all your stored caches of nuts are.
On the 24th August, the day before my 41st wedding anniversary, David Bellamy arrived in Cumbria to judge a photography competition organised by the Allerdale Red Squirrel conservation group. I entered the above photograph of this squirrel captured in Dodd Wood during the month of November. To my surprise and delight, the news came that this photograph was a winner. I was told this photograph will be the cover for a calendar to go on sale and the proceeds will contribute towards red squirrel conservation for the Allerdale Group. Here are some of the reports from the local Cumbrian newspaper, The Times and Star:
Holding the 3 main winners of the Allerdale Red Squirrel Group Photograph competition, from left, Mary Burkett OBE, Botanist and competition judge David Bellamy and Susan Southworth from the Allerdale Red Squirrel Group, Isel Hall, Cockermouth, Friday 24th August 2012: Ian Carruthers 50037754T018. JPG (CopyrightTimes and Star)
David Bellamy, British author, broadcaster emvironmental campaigner and botanist, who judged photographs of red squirrels for a calendar to raise money for the Allerdale Red Squirrel Group, Isel Hall, Cockermouth, Friday 24th August 2012: Ian Carruthers 50037754T012. JPG (Copyright Times and Star)
Photograph of a red squirrel by Maria Blakeley from Huddersfield which won the Allerdale Red Squirrel Group competition judged by David Bellamy, Friday 24th August 2012, Isel Hall Cockermouth: Ian Carruthers 50037754T016. JPG (Copyright Times and Star)
These dark tailed squirrels have visited our patio every day at Underscar for the last 14 days. I was so lucky to get a shot of the 3 all together.
They are kittens and look like miniature versions of their parents. Kittens begin to venture from the nest when they are ten week olds; they are learning to find food for themselves and spend a great deal of their time obsessively burying what they find.
It is good to see these three brothers and sisters staying close to one another. Anytime between 10 - 14 weeks of age they will move out into a new nest and begin to live alone; then they will hardly tolerate one another.
Red squirrels moult their ear tufts once a year - so at the moment there's a lot of bald ears. They will grow back within the next few weeks. They'll be sporting new tufts ready for winter.
They are moulting their tails now too - again they do that once a year. The body fur is moulted in Spring and Autumn.
Summer Coat
Here I am in camouflage clothing, tracking red squirrels.
Hereford Owl Rescue were at the Lowther Game Fair. They will rescue captive bred owls from anywhere in the UK. The rescue centre will look after 40 owls at a time and is owned by Baroness Sasavon Barth und Kippenruer.
I held three of these rescued owls at the Lowther Game Fair yesterday.
Although owls have always been a popular bird, the general public are found to have very little idea of their needs in terms of feeding, handling etc. Owls featuring in recent films have led to an increase in the number of people keeping them as pets, not always with very satisfactory results. Most of the birds at the centre can never be released into the wild, as they are captive bred and would not learn to hunt for themselves.
www.herefordowlrescue.co.uk
Just about the most important signal post for a red squirrel is its tail. When subdued or snoozing its huge bushy tail is usually held over its back and head, umbrella style.
As it moves it is either held out behind the animal or used as a rudder when jumping onto walls or tree stumps.
Tail swishing - as sweeping side to side movement - generally means the squirrel is not quite sure of the situation.
Tail flagging or flicking can mean a number of things: if it feels disturbed it will flick its tail up and down. Tail flagging can be a sort of greeting or warning to other squirrels.
Dubworth Silver Meadows is a wetland nature reserve where Bassenthwaite Lake once extended its waters. As we walked round creamy meadowsweet dominated to give a silver appearance. We were not lucky enough to catch a glimpse Roe Deer which inhabit the wooded areas of the site, but we will return soon either at dusk or early morning.
