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Rock Squirrel


Rock Squirrel
Photo Information
Copyright: Paula van Balen (pvb) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 381 W: 20 N: 522] (1815)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-26
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Pentax K100D, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro, 58 mm UV Hama
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-09-01 5:41
Viewed: 689
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Rock Squirrel
Family Sciuridae : Spermophilus variegatus)
Description. A large, moderately bushy-tailed ground squirrel; upperparts mottled grayish brown, the hind back and rump more brownish (head or head and upper back blackish in some parts of the state); tail mixed buff and brown, edged with white; underparts buffy white or pinkish buff. External measurements average: total length, 468 mm; tail, 210 mm; hind foot, 57 mm. Weight of adults, 600-800 g.
Habits. Rock squirrels are nearly always found in rocky areas — cliffs, canyon walls, talus slopes, boulder piles, fills along highways, and so forth — where they seek refuge and have their dens..
Although typical ground squirrels in most respects, they can climb trees nearly as well as tree squirrels. They have been observed 5 or 6 m up in the flowering stalks of agaves feeding on the flowers and buds. They also climb to the tops of junipers to forage on the berries and in mesquites to feed on the buds or beans. Occasionally, they den in tree hollows 5 or 6 m from the ground. The usual den, however, is a burrow dug under a rock; others are in crevices in rock masonry along railroads and highways, cavities in piles of boulders, or small caves and crevices in rocky outcrops. They are diurnal and most active in early morning and late afternoon, but they are rather shy and difficult to observe at close range. Their call is usually a repeated sharp, clear whistle.
They feed on a variety of plant materials depending on availability. Known items include acorns, pine nuts, walnuts, seeds of mesquite, cactus, saltbush, agave, wild gourd, cherries, sumac, spurge, serviceberry, berries of currant and juniper, and all sorts of cultivated fruits and vegetables. Insects also contribute importantly to their diet, especially grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars. They are fond of flesh and are known to catch and eat small wild turkeys and other birds.
They store quantities of food for winter use which, coupled with the fact that they are seen occasionally in winter on mild days, suggests that they either do not hibernate or that hibernation is incomplete and only for short periods.
Mating activities begin in March and continue into July, which suggests that two litters may be produced each year. Litter size ranges from two to five. Gravid females have been collected in June. Young squirrels first appear above ground at 6-8 weeks of age, and young about quarter-grown have been captured as early as June and as late as September 20. Little is known about the birth and early life of the young squirrels.
http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/spervari.htm

photo taken at Rotterdam zoo Blijdorp
uleko, Natch, hester, rdfoto, Alex99, NellyD, nainnain, ramthakur has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To uleko: Thanks for your visitpvb 1 09-01 10:59
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Paula,
Well composed. Nice background.
Never saw a Rock squirrel before...:-)
TFS
Annick

very good pose and colors
nice background
good job

aleks ;)
bye

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 371 W: 0 N: 164] (2244)
  • [2007-09-01 6:31]

Interesting animal. I like small hands of the squirrel. Background of the picture and composition are very good.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2544 W: 170 N: 7738] (24487)
  • [2007-09-01 7:18]
  • [+]

Hello Paula,
Excellent capture of this interesting little Rock Squirrel in a nice pose. I like his paws and details are very sharp and the colours look natural. Beautiful soft background and a fine composition. What's he got above the eye?
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hi Paula,
The catch light is amazing. you have done extremely well to get details on his fellow.
TFS
Goutham

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1477 W: 18 N: 3013] (11052)
  • [2007-09-01 14:11]

Hi Paula

This is just a lovely shot. Perfect pose and perfect focus. Excellent POV and nice DOF

TFS

Karan

Hello Paula,
This little one is not the nicest squirrel I have seen but it is a very interesting specie and beautiful capture of it :) I like its pose, details, composition, exposure and POV. They really look strange to me :) Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • rdfoto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 0 N: 747] (3202)
  • [2007-09-02 12:43]

Bonsoir Paula
Très belle prise, cadrage, couleurs, netteté et attitude du sujet, même si d'autres écureils sont plus beau la prise et très reussite.
Amicalement Robi

  • Great 
  • mbasil Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 349 W: 148 N: 713] (3108)
  • [2007-09-02 18:43]

Great capture of this fellow. I like the off-center composition a lot. Good job with the limited DoF. A bit of noise from the 800 ISO, but I guess the zoo was a bit dark.
Mike

Hello Paula this is really nice shot excellent light especially the catchlight in the eyes fine detail and well composed tfs rgds Necip.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-09-04 20:35]

Hello Paula

Just marking the post for now.

Rob

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3139 W: 148 N: 4734] (15295)
  • [2007-09-05 1:00]

Hi Paula.
Your picture is simply great. Excellent reproduction of the cute animal. terrific at its beautifulness BG, blameless composition. lighting, contrast and exposure. My congratulations and kind regards. Perfect job.
Alexei.

Hoi Paula,

Deze eekhoorn heb je ook mooi vastgelegd zeg!
Die pose, die voetjes, echt schattig en zo te zien heeft ie ook
wat eetbaars in zijn voorpootjes?
Heel mooi gedaan, goeie scherpte en achtergrond ook.

Groetjes, Nel

hello paula
merveilleuse présentation, belles couleurs, bon cadrage et tres bons détails sur un parfait BG, bravo a toi et merci
edith

Hi Paula,
Many thanks for your kind critique on my latest picture.

Your image of a Rock Squirrel is just beautiful.
The picture is very sharp and the colours are delightful.
Thanks for sharing it and regards.
Ram

Hello Paula,
Yeah, this one rocks!
A bit fat is he, or maybe he is build like this...
This is a fine capture, great details in the animal and the expression is well recorded!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3094 W: 234 N: 5897] (19892)
  • [2007-11-06 6:49]

Hello Paula,
I am a great fan of squirrels, but I have never seen this one.
Interesting coloring. I wish I could see its tail.
You caught it in a very cute pose.
Details and light are great.
A good note too.
TFS. ; )

bonjour paula
il y a un peu de bruit sur le BG mais j'aime bien la pose de cet ecureuil,et aussi le fait qu'il est bien dodu.
bon week end.
laurent

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