We have several varieties of squirrels in Ontario. The Eastern Grey Squirrel is the most common. Nothing common about this one though 😏
Tag Archives: Squirrels
Share the Path
On a recent walk, the woods were alive again with the sounds and sights of spring. A familiar rusting in the leaves alerted me to nearby squirrels. This one approached and stood there staring, hoping for a snack I guess.
Feisty
We see red squirrels quite often in the woods usually giving chase to the larger eastern gray squirrels.
Red Squirrel
Red Squirrels don’t hibernate in winter but do spend a lot of time in their nests to stay warm and conserve energy. I hope this little squirrel has a cache of food to see him through the bitterly cold weather that’s on the way.
SAVE SOME FOR LATER
This red squirrel was enjoying his snack and wasn’t about to assign the nut to his winter stockpile.
Friday Favourite
We have several varieties of squirrels but red squirrels are my favourite. As cute as they look they’re not afraid to take on the bigger squirrels and chase them away from potential food sources.
SUNDAY SQUIRREL
The red squirrel was sorting through the seeds under a feeder. Another animal I haven’t seen much of this summer.
RED SQUIRREL
I was pleased the squirrel slowed down for a minute so I could take the shot.
SUNDAY SQUIRREL
Black squirrels are very common here. They are actually a melanistic subgroup of the eastern grey squirrel. Their black fur gives them a thermal advantage during our cold winters.
The Best Dining
Under the bird feeder was the place to be for this red squirrel.
READY, SET, GO
A good approach to the week ahead!
RED SQUIRREL
The squirrel was tearing across the ground and finally stopped for a moment and stared in my direction. Another spring first.
ON THE FLY
I took this in late fall. It looked like the red squirrel was in a hurry to gather nesting material before the cold set in.
SUNDAY RED
You often find these little red squirrels under a bird feeder. Easy pickings!
RACE YOU
That’s what it looked like to me 😊.
Best wishes for the Holiday Season!
SQUIRREL SCOUT
Despite the cold, this time of year has its advantages. It’s easier to spot the locals. 😏
CURIOUS SQUIRREL
The black squirrels we see in Ontario are a subgroup of the Eastern Grey Squirrel but when I saw this squirrel with its unusual blond tail I thought the light was playing tricks on my eyes 😏. Another interesting discovery on a neighbourhood walk.
BLACK SQUIRREL
We’re lucky to have a variety of squirrels in the area including the black squirrel. They’re a real standout, particularly in the Fall.
RED IN BLACK AND WHITE
Red squirrels are active all year round. When it gets very cold they retreat to dens in tree trunks but even so you often see them about if only briefly. They also depend on food that they have cached during the fall; frozen berries and buds.
SIMPLY RED
This red squirrel blends in very well to his environment, particularly in fall.
WATCHFUL
These squirrels are quite common in my area and in the same family as the eastern grey squirrel. They often run off as you approach but not this time.
RED SQUIRREL
Red squirrels will scatter when you approach but when they’re eating they often choose to stay put as this one did. He had the whole place to himself and was taking full advantage.
RED SQUIRREL
I’ve featured quite a few photos of red squirrels. I find them very attractive, for their looks and lively temperament. This one was enjoying a snack by a well stocked feeder. The birds often scatter a lot of seeds on the ground, leaving tasty leftovers for the taking.
EASY LIVING
In mid summer, the living is easy for animals in our local reserve. At least it’s easier for this red squirrel than it is now with the approach of winter. The squirrels were busy in the fall hiding their winter provisions. This along with people feeding them, will help them make do until spring.
RED SQUIRREL
The way this squirrel is hugging the tree makes me think he’s a young one. Usually they are pretty spirited, chasing the larger grey squirrels or holding their ground as we pass them in the woods.
RED SQUIRREL
It’s nearly fall and time to get busy collecting food for the approaching winter. This squirrel was taking time out for a quick snack. Under the feeder the ground is littered with spent sunflower seeds. Occasionally though an intact seed falls to the ground for the lucky few.
RED SQUIRREL (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
The area under the feeder was carpeted with empty shells but there must have been a few seeds remaining for the red squirrel to eat. He was sharing the space with a few sparrows also looking for seeds dropped by the bigger birds.
EASTERN GREY
Although this photo was taken in November, the trees were bare and the sky overcast. It looks more like mid winter than late fall. Of all the squirrels in our woods this variety of eastern grey is the most watchful.
RED SQUIRREL (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
We saw more red squirrels last year than usual. They’re feisty, will often stand their ground with people and tend to chase the larger grey squirrels out of their territory. What they lack in size they make up for in temperament. We’ve had a prolonged period of extreme cold lately and you have to marvel at the toughness of these little creatures.
EASTERN GREY SQUIRREL
Before the snow arrived in mid-December there were still pine cones and seeds for the taking. Between storing food for the winter ahead, this eastern grey squirrel stopped for a bite. The trees were bare and provided little colour to warm the scene. I liked the way the black and white treatment brought out the detail and texture.
RED SQUIRRELS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
The first photo was taken in the fall and the second barely a month later; the landscape changes rapidly with the seasons. Red squirrels can be found all year long and seem to shadow you in the winter when food is scarce. In the photo below the squirrel found the seeds that someone had left and stayed put as I approached. I didn’t want to disturb him, so I took this photo and then left him to his meal.
RED AND GREY (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
Both of these squirrels are well represented in our woods. The red squirrel looked like a young one, relaxed as he ate his snack. Maybe he thought I couldn’t see him with the branches providing a bit of cover. The black eastern grey squirrels are more common here than the grey variety and he was more on the alert than the red.
WINTER WOODS
Red squirrels are shyer than grey squirrels except in winter when food is scarce. They watch you closely as you walk along hoping for a snack. I had nothing with me that day and felt kind of badly as I did my rounds. Someone ahead of me had left a trail of seeds and nuts though and it wasn’t long before the squirrel was eating his fill.
RED SQUIRRELS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
The calendar indicates it’s still fall but it sure looks like winter in the first photo. The second shot was taken in the same location in mid-Spring. It’s tough going for these little guys right now. I hope their stockpiles of food hold out, augmented by kindly passersby.
YOUNG RED SQUIRREL (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
By this time in May we usually see a lot of young birds in the woods and on the water. Given the below normal temperatures in our area and heavy spring flooding the natural cycle has been delayed by a few weeks. Squirrels don’t seem to have been effected though as we’ve some young about. This young squirrel wasn’t scared off by my presence. He kept an eye on me but held his ground (and his nut) while I photographed him. I took a few shots and then I left him to it.
SNACK TIME (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
I’ve featured black eastern grey squirrels before. They’re particularly attractive subjects in the fall with the autumn leaves as backdrop. These squirrels are usually skittish. Although he kept a watchful eye on me, nothing was going to disturb him from his snack. As winter was fast approaching and food was harder to come by every bite counted.
RED SQUIRRELS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
The red squirrels had a good year at the reserve and we saw more of them than in the past. They are smaller than the eastern greys but what they lack in size they make up for in temperament. They often chase the larger squirrels around; are known to be feisty and very territorial. These squirrels make for fine subjects particularly in the fall when the woods wear a similar colour to their own.
FAMILY TIES (THREE PHOTOGRAPHS)
The photograph above was taken in March of this year, we had a late spring and the squirrel stands out against the wintery backdrop. The other two photographs were taken in early October before the vegetation had taken on its fall appearance. We’ve had some cold weather the last few days so I haven’t been keen on heading out with my camera. As we’re supposed to get some sun in the next day or two, I’ll get myself fitted up and check on these little guys and see what else is going on in the woods.
ALLSORTS (THREE PHOTOGRAPHS)
The woods around us boast two species of squirrels: the red squirrel and the eastern grey squirrel, both grey and black varieties (pictured below). With the cold weather settling in it’s a busy time for them. They’re out in force collecting food for the long winter ahead. The sound of the squirrels scurrying through the woods can even muffle the birdsong that we’re straining to hear.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 