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Red Squirrel


Red Squirrel
Información de la foto
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5209] (17609)
Género: Animals
Medio: Color
Tomada el: 2007-12-01
Categorías: Mammals
Cámara: Canon 20D, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS
Exposición: f/7.1, 1/400 segundos
More Photo Info: [view]
Versión de la foto: Versión original
Fecha enviada: 2007-12-16 3:52
Vista: 1285
Favoritos: 1 [Ver]
Puntos: 50
[Normas para las notas] Notas del fotógrafo
Hi all todays posting is a Red Squirrel having a quick meal on a buck brush branch. The branches were covered in frost so he had cool footing. What looks like catchlight is actually a snow flake on his eye.

Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
General Description

By Gustave J. Yaki


The Red Squirrel is basically a tree-dweller, ranging widely across Canada. More readily heard than seen, they often scold trespassers, whether members of their own species or humans, passing by. They usually sit and chastise us from a horizontal branch 3-6 metres above ground, their bushy tail held upright against their back.

Unlike ground squirrels which hibernate, Red Squirrels are active throughout the entire year. During autumn, each is provident by cutting off and gathering many thousands of conifer tree cones, often while still green, which are stored in great mounds above, or sometimes below, ground, as a winter food supply. Also gathered are mushrooms and tree fruit (apples, etc.), which they dry by stashing in trees until dehydrated and ready for storage. Before winter sets in, they fill a tree cavity or an old magpie or other birds nest with shredded bark and other fine, soft, insulating material for their sleeping quarters. Some may use underground shelters, often amongst the massive midden heaps of the scales of the White Spruce or Douglas-firs cones that they have shucked off to get at the nutritious seeds. To get to their food source, they readily tunnel through the snow.

Red Squirrels mate in early spring, producing two to seven naked, blind helpless young some 35 to 38 days later. They normally mate again in late June with a second brood born by early August. The first brood is usually reared in a tree cavity. The second one is often raised in a drey (a leafy collection of green twigs, which provides a more air-conditioned site). The eyes of the young open by the time they are five weeks of age. They are weaned at seven to eight weeks and feed away from their birth-shelter at ten weeks, dispersing at about 18 weeks. They are sexually mature by the following spring. Few survive for more than two years, but the odd one may reach nine years in the wild and ten in captivity. A major predator is the Marten, a member of the Weasel Family. These agile, lightning-fast mammals pursue the Red Squirrels through the trees, at least in the foothills and northern Alberta forests. Coyotes, Red Fox and Lynx manage to catch a few. Others succumb to the hunting prowess of Northern Goshawk, Red-tailed Hawk and Great Horned Owls.

Red Squirrels range across North America, from Alaska to Labrador, and south in the western mountains to southern Arizona and New Mexico. They are absent from the treeless grassland region of Alberta and Saskatchewan and the interior Great Plains of the USA.

oki, gerbilratz, eqshannon, MMM, NinaM, Argus, Maite, jaycee, bobair, ramthakur, SelenE, Debz, Ena ha puntuado esta nota como útil.
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Critiques [Translate]

gooooooooood jooooooooooooooob

Hello Rick,
Moody wintery scenery.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • oki Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 81 W: 10 N: 114] (584)
  • [2007-12-16 5:11]

Hi Rick,
nice and very frosty picture, very cute - I love it!
TFS Oki

great squirrel rick...definitely a bit of winter going on there!! good composition...and nice details to its fur. Superb notes as well. TFS

hello rick,
lovely capture of this cute squirrel, i am surprised to see how they survive this tough weather, well exposed shot, fine composition,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Rick,

Wow, does this little guy look cold,
Beautiful image though,
Nice job,

fototab

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 0 N: 172] (2411)
  • [2007-12-16 7:08]

I think it's really cold there. I hope this squirrel could find food and place for hidding.
Good work!

What is it about a picture on a tree,,,,with snow...and the tree leafless...it makes me cold just looking at it...or perhaps it is my own snow only 10 feet from where I type and the cold draft coming in the window...somehow the picture completes the ambiance set up by nature..well done sir A!
Bob

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 926 W: 0 N: 1998] (8963)
  • [2007-12-16 7:24]

Hello Rick
What a nice presentation.Exccellent OOF and POV.I like the pose of your subject and the snow on it.
I can wait to get back in the field.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6596)
  • [2007-12-16 7:38]

Hi Rick, this picture is like a painting, with great colours. I love the red fur against the grey of the background. The composition is great with the curved branch crossing the frame and all the powdered little branches. This photo is absolutely lovely. I like the squirredl eating and seemingly very concentrated doing so, with some snow on its nose. Thank you for sharing a beautiful animal with a beautiful photo and interesting note!

Francine

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3840 W: 190 N: 11430] (35227)
  • [2007-12-16 8:10]

Hello Rick,
Great portrait of an American Red Squirrel in a classic pose. Good sharpness and excellent composition against a grey wintery BG that makes it stand out. The tail is less bushy than that of the European Red Squirrel.
Thanks for sharing this fine capture,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2007-12-16 8:31]

Hello Rick
What a marvellous and lovely capture! The little squirrel looks so cute and funny with its mouth impregnated with snow. They are really intelligent animals being capable to live under that hard conditions.
Magnificent shot with great sharpness and excellent DOF. A superb and beautiful job.
Congratulations and TFS
Greetings
Maite

Brrrrrr... it looks mighty winter-like there. We have rain and then some more rain right now. I'm hoping for some snow. I love the natural framing of your little cold squirrel. The curve of his tail and the lower branch adds interest and a bit of grace to the composition. I love the color he provides to the otherwise gray image.

Lovely work. TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2007-12-16 9:41]

Hi Rick,
This little guy gave you a nice pose in the cold.
Good capture!
TFS
Dave

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3012 W: 162 N: 1012] (2959)
  • [2007-12-16 10:20]

Hello Rick,
Superb capture of this poor little Squirrel surrounded by frost! I think our Squirrels have a thicker fur and a bushier tail than this one. Excellent sharpness and I like its pose. A lovely composition in nice colours.
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-12-16 14:41]

Hi Rob,

Brrrr- you reminded me of why I moved to a snow free zone. This squirrel in the classic pose is just wonderful. The snow on his face is a bonus. A marvelous winter scene.

Jane

  • Great 
  • bobair Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 399 W: 118 N: 1441] (5190)
  • [2007-12-16 15:14]

Hi Rick,
looks like today was the day for you and I to upload squirrels.Your version shows the photo was taken on a rather cold day judging from the dull light and the frost,but the dead give away is is the snowflake on this little one's eye,which strikes me as somewhat odd.Good detail and colour as well as a POV that is interesting make this an enjoyable view,thanks for sharing this frosty picture. Bob

Hi Rick,
Looks like you've got a bit of snow there yourself. I like all the tree limbs , and hes in a cute little pose there:o) TFS
Donna:o)

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2007-12-16 21:07]

Hi Rick,
Wonderful shot of this Red Squirrel among the snow laden natural surrounding. Very impressive sharpness and colours and you you captured a classical pose here. The snow flakes around its mouth and eyes look awesome. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

You have captured this cute little thing in a delightful posture, Rick.
Unmindful of the snow, it seems to be having a great day.
A well composed and sharp image.
Well done and TFS.
Ram

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2007-12-17 5:19]

Hi Rick,
I liked the pose you captured, details, and the composition a lot. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 516 W: 0 N: 846] (3307)
  • [2007-12-17 15:28]

Hi Rick, beautiful winter image with this dear little Red Squirrel - perfect! Great pov and nicely composed with him tucking in to his lunch. Good light and good exposure on the snow, I love the snow on the face. Great!
tfs
debz

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-12-22 21:28]

Hello Rick

This squirrel is well captured in the classic red squirrel pose.They always look so cold in the winter,but their fur seems to thicken nicely.
The focus and details are sharp.
Nicely composed in the trees,the POV and DOF are well done.
I like the OOF BG very much.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • badar Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 108 W: 0 N: 159] (785)
  • [2007-12-23 22:00]

Hi Rick,
Lovely winter image ,nice environment & ambience.
TFS
Merry Christmas

Bader

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 61 N: 591] (2458)
  • [2008-01-02 10:43]

Hi Rick,
Lovely winter shot!
Good composition!
Regards
Ena

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