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grey squirrel


grey squirrel
Photo Information
Copyright: clint newsham (clint) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 40 W: 0 N: 238] (1355)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005
Categories: Mammals
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-12-30 14:15
Viewed: 1135
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Grey squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Grey squirrels are an alien species and were introduced to the UK from the USA in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century. Their success has been to the detriment of our native red squirrels.



Life span
Up to 9 years.



Statistics
Head and body length: 23-30 cm, Tail length: 19-25cm, Weight (adult): 400-600g.



Physical Description
Grey squirrels are distinguished from red squirrels by their grey fur, smaller ear tufts and their larger, more robust build. Grey squirrels sit with their large bushy tail arched over the back.



Distribution
They are widespread throughout England and Wales, south of Cumbria, and are common in local pockets in Scotland. They are absent from the rest of mainland Europe, except for small localised populations in Italy.



Habitat
Common in deciduous and mixed woodland, they are also found in hedgerows, trees, parks and gardens.



Diet
Grey squirrels feed on acorns, tree shoots, flowers, nuts, fruits, roots and cereals. They bury surplus food 2-5cm below the soil or in tree hollows. They feed at ground level, more so than red squirrels, and together with their ability to digest acorns, (which reds can't), they have tended to displace red squirrels in areas of woodland where the two have come into contact.



Behaviour
Grey squirrels live in a compact, spherical nest (drey), 30-60cm in diameter, with an outer frame of twigs, and dry leaves and grass inside. They are diurnal, active from before sunrise to after sunset. The peak of activity is in the autumn. Their range covers 2-10 hectares.



Reproduction
Females produce a litter of usually three young in the spring or late summer (or occasionally both), after a gestation period of 42-45 days. The young are weaned after 10 weeks and are independent at 16 weeks.



Conservation status
Grey squirrels are widespread and not protected in the UK. They are considered a pest of forestry, and are often killed on roads.

this is an old shot from a couple of years ago, i was out trying to get some shots of a couple of jays which frequent this tree stump in search of food, then this chap came along.
canon 3oo D
sigma 100/300
digital iso 400
1/125sec
f5.6
RAP, XOTAELE, Evelynn, Bufo, carmia, smash2707, wallhalla15, Pentaxfriend, sarajofre, coasties, Argus, Maite, Hil, PDP has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

bonjour clint
superbe photo belle composition et belle lumiére bravo

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-12-30 14:20]

Another success Clint for your portfolio.

Composition: *****
Sharpness: *****
Color: *****
Lighting: *****
Background: *****
Framing: *****
DOF: *****
Focus: *****
POV: *****
Frame: -
Note: *****

Nothing to grumble... only praises for a great presentation.
Cheers!
Ricardo

great sharp pic, TFS Ori

Preciosa imagen con una nitidez extraordinaria. Bellos colores y encantadora presentación. Una nota muy interesante y bastante completa.
Saludos, JL.

  • Great 
  • Dejv Silver Star Critiquer [C: 18 W: 0 N: 0] (75)
  • [2006-12-30 14:49]

Hallo
This is fact good truthful and good sharpness.
I like these pictures! When the are good light so walks everything!
I wish much lights and photographic success!
TFS David

What, no peanut butter?! I guess he'll just have to settle for the bread. This is a great sharp image, perfectly exposed and composed with exact focus.

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 871 W: 2 N: 606] (2034)
  • [2006-12-30 14:59]

Hello Clint ,It's a beauty ,a great shot great compositie with his food good colours pov and beauty bg very good ,tfs Good Weekend ,Teunie .

  • Great 
  • Bufo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 422 W: 71 N: 984] (4241)
  • [2006-12-30 15:04]

Hello Clint,
another fantastic capture, with great sharpnes. Nice blurry background. But is the slice of bread overexposed or not? I think a bit. But overall no complaints, just compliments.
REgards, Jacob

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2338] (8400)
  • [2006-12-30 15:11]

Hi Clint,
Perfect in every aspect: exposure, texture, sharpness, pose, moment, composition, background,.. . even the trunk with its green buds are fine!
TFS, José M.

Excellent work nice detail great background contrast and seperation fine focus well composed congrats Happy new yr Rgds Necip.

  • Great 
  • carmia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 222 W: 2 N: 124] (1909)
  • [2006-12-30 16:22]

oooh! precious squirrel eating the bread, likeable image, the clearness is perfect. Greetings and happy 2007!

Hi Clint. Perfect portrait. Good composition, excellent timing, great light and colors, perfect sharpness. Happy new year, Yvonne

Hello Clint,
this is an excellent shot from the Squirrel. Excellent POV, framing and sharpness. Great details, bg and exposure. This is an excellent composition. Thank you for posting.
I wish you a Happy New Year.
Greetings
Heinz

Hi Clint,

Superb shot of this lovely squirrel
sharpness, details, colours, pose, POV, DOF and BG are perfect

TFS and a Happy new year
Thijs

  • Great 
  • rdfoto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 0 N: 747] (3202)
  • [2006-12-30 17:25]

Bonsoir Clint
Elle est superbe, composition, lumière, piqué ****
Bonne année
Salutations Robi

Que belo enquadramento numa excelente composição de uma bela cena. Parabéns.

Hello Clint

Wow... this is wonderful. This little guy isn't going hungry. Congrats on a fantastic shot! Best wishes for 2007 :-)

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-12-30 22:46]

Hello Clint

Super job on this grey squirrel.The POV and DOF are very good.The details are razor sharp,the focus is spot on.The colours are natural,and well saturated.Great shot.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2613 W: 133 N: 7504] (23403)
  • [2006-12-31 2:23]

Hello Clint,
Superb sharp shot of the grey Squirrel in classic pose with perfect BG.
This is a shot of an animal in the wild, but introduced by man, eating food processed by man and sitting on a willow probably planted by and certainly pollarded by man.
Also an excellent illustration of how much we affect our natural world.
TFS and best wishes for 2007!
Ivan

Hi Clint,
Very sharp image...
Nice background and compo.
TFS
Annick
Happy 07!

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 982 W: 64 N: 1198] (4928)
  • [2006-12-31 8:09]

Hello Clint
What a magnificent shot!!
Perfect sharpness, color, bg, lighting, composition... Great job, indeed!
Thank you very much for sharing.
Best wishes for the New Year!
Maite

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 11 N: 1408] (4839)
  • [2006-12-31 13:51]

Hi Clint

Great shot of this Grey Squirrel, really nicely presented composition and a fabulous pose, just a pity it wasn't a nut it was enjoying, very nice details and superb well saturated colours.

Happy New Year
Hilary :)

  •      
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11755)
  • [2007-01-07 13:57]

Hi Clint, this is an excellent shot. It would be better if he had some jam and a knife! lovely work all round. Well done.

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