Tree Rat In Flight

Jazzy dog and I went for a quick run round after lunch hoping to shoot birds. Suddenly Jazz was in hunting mode, tail held high and muzzle to the ground. I spotted the squirrel before she did and luckily I had my camera set for birds in flight.

I like the way the sunlight has highlighted its ears and revealed its skinny, rat-like tail under the fluff. These American interlopers are not my favourite animals. People think they're cute and cuddly but these rodents will take birds' eggs and chicks.

I was talking to Luke and Carl about animal behaviour in the camera shop yesterday. Luke said that as he stood at his back door recently a squirrel approached up the garden path. He stood still and it continued and then ran up his leg. Naughty me, I ventured that it thought he was a tree and was after his nuts. :) He said that it wasn't interested in them and continued climbing up his body until he moved, which startled it and it jumped off.