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Reach Out


Reach Out
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Prince (PDP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11755)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-04-17
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX APO RF, Digital ISO 400, Hoya skylight (1B)
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/500 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Photos with titles of songs, 5 favs. and up, 100 points or more (Chapter 1), Squirrels [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-04-18 5:01
Viewed: 3877
Favorites: 8 [view]
Points: 134
[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.

I hope you like it

Notes are from /www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts
aido, coasties, Dando, Luc, Signal-Womb, scottevers7, wkshelton, dew77, goutham_ramesh, smirnese, PerR, liquidsunshine, saguzar, fiyo, Paulosousa, mogens-j, Demetrio, vrvijai, jeanpaul, Fisher, wgreis, elefantino, red45, TAZ, firelord, peter_stoeckl, shirgold, timonejoon, soccer, rsiliato, Pentaxfriend has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Aramok: nutsPDP 1 04-18 14:39
To PerR: nutsPDP 1 04-18 14:37
To liquidsunshine: nutsPDP 1 04-18 14:36
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1097 W: 168 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-04-18 5:10]

Hi Paul,
With that title I now have the song in my head and see the Squirrel dancing to it :-) I love the detail in the feet, it's the first time I've ever seen them this close. Excellent detail throughout and good natural colours, exposure is spot-on. Great shot.
Cheers,
Adrian

Hi Paul

Wow... what a great shot. Fantastic detail in the pads of the paw. Very good exposure and the fur looks good enough to stroke. Nice catchlight and excellent OOF BG to compliment the shot. :-)

Hello Paul,
It looks a bit like a prayer for me. Great details, lovely light and perfect framing.
I like it a lot!
VERY WELL DONE!

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 32 N: 790] (3052)
  • [2006-04-18 5:35]

Hi Paul, this is an excellent capture that works well in portrait. The lighting and details are spot on. The POv you have chosen works very well as it shows us the contrast of the his white coat underneath. Also I have never seen the palm of a squirrel before in so much detail. No niggles on this one. First class.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2006-04-18 5:50]

Unusual but very effective PoV, Paul.
It is the first time that I see the interior of a leg of squirrel so clearly exposed.
A lovely colector.
You make honor to the squirrels.
Thank you.

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1149 W: 254 N: 2555] (11569)
  • [2006-04-18 6:10]

Hi Paul,

A cute shot of this squirrel,the nuts were too high I suppose,well exposed shot with excellent details,well done

Paul

Hello Paul, great light, detail and expression of image. What really catches my eye is the palm of a squirrel, something Iv never seen clearly before. Top shot.

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5726 W: 605 N: 3416] (9137)
  • [2006-04-18 7:04]
  • [2]

Hello Paul
What a handsome little star catcher.
This is an excellent composition with lovely natural colours. The DOF is spot on and it shows razor sharp details. The OOF BG is superbly coloured and it enhances the squirrel beautifully. The exposure was very well managed as it shows lovely contrasts on the white and on the darker areas.
Very well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2006-04-18 7:06]

Hi Paul,

Great shot, great pose! Details are very sharp and the exposure is spot on. Very well executed. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • Scott Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 213 W: 0 N: 298] (1398)
  • [2006-04-18 7:31]

Exellent ... well done the detail is stunning...

bravo, j'adore cette posture inhabituelle. et hoppp dans mes favorites!!

Hi Paul,
This is a unique and outstanding pose. Not your typical squirrel photo. The composition and tight cropping look great. Very soft beautiful light has rendered outstanding colors and warm tones. Very sharp detail. Your control on the DOF has a perfect OOF backround.
Extremely well done my friend!
Scott

Great shot Paul of theis squirrel.
Great colors and excellent details.
The pov and the BG are excellent, also the framing and composition too.
TFS!!!!
Regards
JC

Fantastic detail and colour. You've captured something that really seems to convey a lot of feeling.

what amazing detail - it is so sharp and clear throughout and the 'hand' is amazing. The light in the picture is excellent.

Were you bribing it? I know the ones in London parks can be hand fed.

Hi Paul, excellent photo Perfect capture and great details, Perfect colors,Excellent photo. TFS Kyle

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-04-18 9:12]

Hello Paul!
Excellent capture.I liked POV,moment you caught,crisp clear details,sharpness,framing,catchlight in eyes and composition a lot.TFS...:-)

Hi paul
This is a masterpiece!!, the details, colors and the composition are excellent
TFS
Goutham R

Wonderful!A very expressive shot.
Good DOF,sharpness,colors...
TFS!
Isabel

hi paul,
you have captured a great moment.good POV and timing.
nice colours and clear details.
thank you for sharing.
serhan

perfect and lovely...
thanx

The detail is stunning, excellent exposure, nice camera work.

Greg

What a great shot!! Really perfect, fantastic moment, wonderfully sharp - great capture! I love it!

Wow....brilliant shot Paul.
Fantastic.
Thanks for sharing.

LOL.. excellent pose Paul, perfect capture and nice to see something a little different from the sweet tail curled over pose.

  • Great 
  • PerR Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 21 W: 6 N: 16] (99)
  • [2006-04-18 13:28]
  • [+]

Hello Paul.
Interesting pose of this squirrel. Is there a nut above him? Great colours and light and the focus is sooo good. The blur background fits very well too. Well done. TFS
Regards
Per

Brilliant capture Paul,
Very sharp and clear detail, perfect colours. Exposure and lighting are good. Good POV, notes and framing.

Did you really have to dangle a quaker breakfast bar over this little squirrel to get the pose? :)

Thanks for posting, Have a great week.

  • Great 
  • puciu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 523 W: 0 N: 16] (2599)
  • [2006-04-18 15:21]

¦wietne zdjêcie i wyczerpuj±cy opis. £adnie uchwycone i doskona³a jako¶æ. Super.

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1552 W: 0 N: 1165] (6442)
  • [2006-04-18 15:23]

Hi Paul,
Excellent capture with perfect timing, superb details and clarity, great colours.
Very well done!

Hi Paul,
Beautiful, excellent captured, the squirrel seems to want something uppon her. Very good details, exposure and BG.
Cheers
Hernán

Salut Paul
I think this is a masterpiece! Absolutly fabulous composition and detail to match. Well done.
Amicalement
Morag

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-04-18 19:33]

Hi Paul,
this is an incredible shot, perfection.
A beautiful pose with great light and perfect sharp detaisl. A lovely composition.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11878)
  • [2006-04-18 21:53]

WoW!!!

EXCELLENTE photo Et MAGNIFIQUE pose.
J'aime beaucoup cette composition pour l'originalité et la qualité d'image.

Merci pour l'envoie Paul.

joseph

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 924 W: 5 N: 2259] (8370)
  • [2006-04-19 2:42]

Hello Paul,
Wonderful capture.POV,colors,sharpness and composition are excellent.TFS

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3453 W: 144 N: 5902] (17490)
  • [2006-04-19 6:50]

Hi Paul super catch of the squirrel, I love looking at these fellows. Very sharp and clear details, and great pose too. Your lighting is good, colours too. Well done,
Janice

woooow
Beautiful pose:)
Excellent light, very sharp and colorful shot!
Nice details and composition!
Great job:)
Thanks Ana:)

Superb capture Paul. I really like the pose - looks like he is reaching for spring - lik the rest of us;-)).
Absolutely wonderful colours and sharpness with so perfect details in the little body and fur. If I had the time I could look at this for hours and if it was mine I would frame it in king size and put it on my wall - really. Excellent note with lot of informations on the little beauty. TFS.

Really/Very nice shot, nice and close with very good details on the Squirrel. So many great photos Paul with shots like these I would love to see some of your work published. Very good notes and useful. Well done.

Demetrio

Hello Paul...
Another superb pose by your little grey friend!
A very professional capture with everything in place, I don't even bother to mention...
Just saying congratulations!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Greenie will be forwarded soon! OK-

  • Great 
  • Jannie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 250 W: 6 N: 246] (1127)
  • [2006-04-20 10:41]

What a pose. Perfect DOF and detail. Vivid colours and the background is great.

Thumbs up Paul
Congrats

Hi Paul,
This is an excellent capture and a pleasure to view..Lovely job my friend!!

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3073 W: 232 N: 5866] (19730)
  • [2006-04-21 3:59]

A fantastic pose and wonderful POV of that squirrel.
A moment well caught, Paul.
The focus and exposure are perfect.
I too am very impressed with the clear view of the bottom of the paw, something most of us have never had an opportunity to observe.
Congratulations on an excellent capture. TFS. : )

Wonderful Paul, great detail!!!

Bonjour Paul
Très belle présentation que tu nous fait avec cet écureil qui semble vouloir attraper quelque chose. Les couleurs ,les détails et le cadrage tout est parfait.
Bravo et merci....JP

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2006-04-21 18:50]

Hi Paul,

Excellent shot and well done on the capture. Excellent lighting, especially the catch light in the eye. Nicely.

Mike

Hi Paul,
It's something of "divine" in this capture. The squirrel is "looking for god" and this is really a decisive moment.
Colors, contrast and focus is perfect.
Note ok too.
Congratulations,
Wagner.

AMAZING !!!

Andrea

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 0 N: 90] (7745)
  • [2006-04-22 18:21]

Hi Paul
Great Squirrel shot. Excellent composition and BG. Good details, note and POV.
Well done Paul.

osse

  • Great 
  • Kris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 193 W: 0 N: 129] (1808)
  • [2006-04-23 15:53]

Hi Paul,
Excellent pose, very beautiful composition, amazing colors. The exposure are also very good. Perfect.
Thanks for posting.
Regards, Krzysztof.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2831 W: 75 N: 8025] (26865)
  • [2006-04-24 4:34]

Hi Paul!
Do you know how many categories of squirrels pictures we have got? Two. This one and the rest. Squirrels' pictures are in 99% very boring [including mine], your is just superb. So refreshing and funny. This small animal looks like praying for something. Maybe more nuts ;-) ?

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1331 W: 107 N: 4825] (21400)
  • [2006-04-24 22:48]

Everything in it is just superb, the very unusual pose of the squirrel, the extreme sharpness, the stunning background and the great composition. Bravo Paul !

Mario

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2006-04-25 5:11]

Hello Paul,
Difficult to write an original comment after the other TN friends. So, in my opinion : bravo pour cette superbe photo !!!
Congratulations to our Master and thanks for sharing.

Hi Paul, what portrait! Beautiful! Perfect in focus, details and framing.
Bravo.
Maurizio

TFS :))

Hi Paul,
Cute shot of the squirrel! The pose is great. The details and colours are lovely and make the squirrel stand out well from its background. Well composed from a good POV. Great job!
Claudia

This is really a cute shot, it looks as though it were saying 'Lord!...anything but a squirrel!'. Fantastic exposure showing great details and colors. Well done Paul. :)

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 500 W: 2 N: 466] (2121)
  • [2006-04-29 4:48]

beautiful cute and funny! excellent sharpness, colors, light! excellent work and a lucky moment for you! congratulations.

Paul,
very moving and touching portrait of one of the prettiest pests on earth. Great shot!
Thanks, and best regards,
Peter

Very nice shot.
The details are incredible. Nice colours!
Good work
Bye Tom

Hi Paul,
Nice to see it reaching up like that - the POV is perfect.
Light, details are excellent
TFS - Shir

Hi Paul,
Superb shot with marvelous details. The position of the squirrel is incredibel.
Guy

Hi Paul

let me just watch. I have a lot of shots from this animals but non of them are like this, it is amazingly perfect, very nice POV and DOf. perfect perfect.
well done

TFS
regars
timone

The pose is everything. Great timing on this capture Paul.

Wow Paul. This is a superb photo. The details, sharpness and pose are excellent. I like this shot. Very well done.

Paul, Awesome action shot! The Composition, POV, Sharpness, Detail of the subject, DOF and BG make a really great pic. TFS,
Sheriff

hi paul
les details sont vraiment parfaits,j'aimme beaucoup la pose qu'il prend,je suppose qu'il essayait d'attraper quelque chose.
laurent

Hi Paul,

superb shot,
perfect details ,sharpness ,timing ,POV ,DOF and BG

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • Adam73 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 5 N: 500] (2069)
  • [2007-03-27 17:55]

You can't get any sharpner than this. So sharp my lcd is bleeding. Wonderful POV, great bokeh, and color saturation is awesome. DOF is awesome as well. All the technical bases are coverd. Beautiful.

lovely light and perfect framing.

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