Red Squirrel spotting.

[eamo]

Red Squirrels are becoming as rare as hens teeth but to my delight I have three times over the last year seen one on Ticknock (for those of you who dont know Ticknock is a large hill or as we call it in Dublin a "Mountain"). I hope it is not the same one and that they are making a come-back in the Dublin hills. Got a great view of one today, they are much shyer than the Grey Squirrels which have almost replaced them so it was unusual to get such a prolonged viewing of one.
Anyone else got a sighting report?
If you do spot one, or better still get a photo of one, here is the place to share it.

Did not get any pics today but here are some from Photobucket:

http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/o...squirrel-1.jpg


http://www.digitalwildlife.co.uk/mam...edsquirrel.htm


http://www.tollymoreredsquirrelgroup...andssquirrels/



http://www.npws.ie/publications/archive/IWM51.pdf

[5intheface]

None about here now but they were so common in the 70s that the local forest had a squirrel trail.

Saw them regularly when I was working in Glenarm (Co. Antrim) couple of years back but they may have been reintroduced there.

Saw a shrew in the garden at the weekend, that's a first in decades!

[eamo]

None about here now but they were so common in the 70s that the local forest had a squirrel trail.

Saw them regularly when I was working in Glenarm (Co. Antrim) couple of years back but they may have been reintroduced there.

Saw a shrew in the garden at the weekend, that's a first in decades!

Given half a chance nature will reassert itself. In Anglesey North Wales they have eradicated the Grey Squirrel and now it is a major habitat for Red Squirrels.

[fluffybiscuits]

Given half a chance nature will reassert itself. In Anglesey North Wales they have eradicated the Grey Squirrel and now it is a major habitat for Red Squirrels.

Saw loads of squirrels (red ones) in Birmingham and apparently they are common in the west. Good friend of mine is a park ranger and told me they are holding strong in the west but just about

[eamo]

Saw loads of squirrels (red ones) in Birmingham and apparently they are common in the west. Good friend of mine is a park ranger and told me they are holding strong in the west but just about

Now Birmingham was the last place I would have thought to find Red Squirrels. In parks I presume, they might take measures to control the grey squirrel population over there. Its the sort of thing they do in European countries other than Ireland.

[Baron von Biffo]

Now Birmingham was the last place I would have thought to find Red Squirrels. In parks I presume, they might take measures to control the grey squirrel population over there. Its the sort of thing they do in European countries other than Ireland.

We're so keen to please the Yanks that Hogan might order a cull of the red squirrels to stop them competing with the greys.

[eamo]

We're so keen to please the Yanks that Hogan might order a cull of the red squirrels to stop them competing with the greys.

Better dead than red

[Baron von Biffo]

Better dead than red

And the greys are yet another destructive American import.

[Andrew49]

A good way of helping the red squirrel is to eat the grey squirrel - the grey squirrels are quite edible. That little nugget (no pun intended) from Clive Anderson the President of the Woodland Trust

[Ah Well]

A good way of helping the red squirrel is to eat the grey squirrel - the grey squirrels are quite edible. That little nugget (no pun intended) from Clive Anderson the President of the Woodland Trust

Yes indeed ... Southern Fried is the way to go, or even Tandoori ... but Grey Squirrel Cornish Pasty could be an Irish Market Eyeopener

Now, where did I put that air rifle ... hmmmm ... better take a packed lunch too

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...s.foodanddrink

[fluffybiscuits]

Yes indeed ... Southern Fried is the way to go, or even Tandoori ... but Grey Squirrel Cornish Pasty could be an Irish Market Eyeopener

Now, where did I put that air rifle ... hmmmm ... better take a packed lunch too

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...s.foodanddrink

Seriously though why dont we consider grey squirrel as a food? Its
-common
-cheap
-would help the red squirrel


Where would be buy a squirrel here that is gutted etc?

[bernadette]

There are red squirrels in Mayo. I've not seen any but so I'm told. Its said that the reason we still have reds is the Shannon. The fear is the greys will cross the Shannon.

I think the red squirrel population is protected in England to the extent of killing any encraching greys. I don't care how edible greys are let someone else eat them. Rodents!

[fluffybiscuits]

There are red squirrels in Mayo. I've not seen any but so I'm told. Its said that the reason we still have reds is the Shannon. The fear is the greys will cross the Shannon.

I think the red squirrel population is protected in England to the extent of killing any encraching greys. I don't care how edible greys are let someone else eat them. Rodents!

Squirrel soaked in honey....yum!

[bernadette]

Squirrel soaked in honey....yum!

They are fluffy tailed plague pits!

[5intheface]

They are fluffy tailed plague pits!

Yip, rats with fluffy tails.

EDIT: Sorry fluffy, that was nothing personal.