Tuesday 8 August 2017

Squirrels and Jays

As I haven't yet edited the pair of Hoopoes we saw, here are a few squirrel captures I made a couple of weeks ago. It is not a Portuguese custom to feed birds, unless it's bread for the ducks in our ponds. Therefore there is a limited supply of attractive bird feeders. The only ones available are the little wooden boxes, some of you may have seen in my posts. I just use anything, for the birds and for the squirrels. Here I've used a heavy glass plate,...so it wouldn't break, or be knocked off the table. At first the birds were wary,...but not the squirrels!  They hogged the table, establishing their dominance in the pecking order, and the Jays were next. Of course I refilled the plate after they had left, for the smaller birds, and then settled back in my hide again to watch them.



WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OLD BENCHES STACKED NEAR THE TABLE, WAITING TO BE DISMANTLED,
 

AND MADE INTO FIRE WOOD, AND THE SQUIRRELS JUMP FROM HERE TO THE TABLE.
 

THIS YOUNG SQUIRREL AND THE ONE ABOVE ARE ONE AND THE SAME.
 

THIS SQUIRREL JUMPED FROM THE TREE BEHIND,...
 

AND SO DID THIS ONE.
 

ANOTHER SQUIRREL, CHOSE A PEANUT, WENT TO EAT IT ELSEWHERE, AND RETURNED THREE TIMES.
 

THIS LITTLE SQUIRREL STAYED A LONG TIME, EATING THE SUNFLOWER SEEDS.
 

I TOOK THIS SHOT FROM OUR PATIO DOORS,...
 

AND THIS ONE.
 

THIS SQUIRREL AND THE NEXT ARE ONE AND THE SAME.
 

IT HAD SUCH A SWEET FACE.
 

A JAY ABOUT TO DRINK WATER FROM AN OLD DISH.
 

THE JAYS ARE USED TO SEEING MY BESPOKE HIDE.
 

AS I LEAVE IT OUTSIDE ALL SUMMER, BUT THEY HAVE NO IDEA I'M INSIDE.
 

IT'S SUCH FUN TO OBSERVE OUR GARDEN VISITERS THIS WAY.
 

MY MADE TO MEASURE HIDE. AMERICO HAD THE FRAME MADE...
 

AND I MADE THE COVER FROM AN OLD SHEET. I ZIP IT UP AT NIGHT TO KEEP THE INSECTS OUT.
 
MANY THANKS TO OUR GRACIOUS HOSTS. JUST CLICK ON THEIR LINKS TO SEE BIRDS, AND OTHER CREATURES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS
I'D-RATHER-B-BIRDIN

50 comments:

Bob Bushell said...

Oh my, beautiful shots of the Red Squirrel, and the Jay, but, I do love the hide, lovely.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Those pesky squirrels can sure be a problem in terms of raiding bird feeders. We have finally found a type of feeder that genuinely does seem to be squirrel proof so we make sure that the birds get most of what we put out. At this time of the year they really don't need supplemental feeding, of course, but we enjoy having them around, and a hummingbird regularly comes to the sugar water feeder too. The jays are very handsome indeed, and I am sure you are delighted to have them As for your blind, what a creative solution. Bravo for ingenuity!

riitta k said...

So nice you revealed your secret - the hiding place! Genious, it enables your fantastic photos! The squrrels are so, so cute <3 We have jays too and oh boy how ugly they skreak! Thank you, it was really a joy to see! Have a nice day.

italiafinlandia said...

Awesome photos! I particularly like squirrels.
Have a good day!
Luisella

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I love all the cute squirrel images. The Jay is beautiful, they do love the penauts. Your blind is nice, what a great idea. Happy Wednesday, enjoy your day!

Nancy Chan said...

Cute squirrel and Jays. What a great idea and your critters wouldn't know that you are in there all the time. Have a beautiful day!

Nancy Chan said...

Concerning the Purple Hearts in my blog, yes, the flowers are triangular shaped pink flowers.

MadSnapper said...

and now I know your secret on why your bird photos are so gorgeous. what a super way to hide and snap away. this squirrel is just to sweet for words. I love his color. ours are light gray. I have seen white and black but this is my first russet colored one. I love those little paws holding the seed. your jay is just beautiful

Sharon Wagner said...

Great critter close ups. We have a red squirrel in our garage. He keeps dropping gifts down onto our car.

Aritha V. said...

What a beautiful picture of the squirrel. It looks like a European squirrel. So beautiful. It's my favorite animal.

Linda said...

Your photos are magnificent! I love the squirrel, the bird and the fabric, too!

Prunella Pepperpot said...

Your garden hide is brilliant! What a super idea and very feminine. I could spend many a happy time in there.
I so love the red squirrel. It is super cute with its tufty ears. We sadly have the grey.
The Jay is a very beautiful bird.
Wonderful captures every single one.
Have a lovely week :)

miss-cherry said...

Fantastyczne zdjęcia ... super ukrycie.

sami niilola said...

Hi. The squirrels are so cute. Great photos.
Hide is awesome.

Jeanne said...

I've never seen a jay like this one. So very different than the blue jays that we have here. Beautiful pictures! And your hide-away is such a great idea!

Cloudia said...

fine shots!

matti niilola said...

I love squirrels. They are so cute.

Les Fous du Cap said...

Magnifique série et belle proximité ;-)
Céline & Philippe

Christine said...

Wonderful! You must have so much fun watching these creatures & their antics from your hide! Ingenious!
Great photos!

Michelle said...

I love your hide away! So clever and it looks to be working well. Nice shots.

Mike Attwood said...

Hi Sonjia, I love the hide, very feminine with a touch of Paris about it. The red squirrels are welcome on my patch anytime, better than the peskey greys. Take care, Mike.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Those are such pretty squirrels -- their red color is much brighter than I've ever seen -- I love watching them and back (in our former life) when we used to feed birds I never even minded sharing bird seed with them (although they sure can eat a lot of it!).

Beautiful jays -- and I'm in love with your made-to-order blind! What a wonderful idea!!

Teresa said...

Has tenido mucha suerte. Besitos.

Marijke said...

Good morning dear Sonjia,
What a lovely photo's you made of the squirels and jays!!! I love it.
I realize seing you photo's what people miss of the beauty of wildlife,
spending theire holidays only baking in the sun at the beaches of Portugal.
Have a wonderful day.
Rosehugs Marijke

LEN said...

Such wonderful sharply focussed shots. I should have guessed your hide would be a further expression of your artistic self.

Sunnyeri said...

Amazing photos, Dear!
I`m following your blog with a great pleasure via GFC
Please follow me back - Sunny Eri: beauty experience

A Colorful World said...

Precious little red squirrel! And I loved the Jay. Sorry you can't get any better bird feeders there. The ones you use seem to work fine, though. Your bird blind is awesome. Looks cool inside there.

Debbie said...

the squirrel is so very sweet, and what a beautiful color, i enjoy watching them. your captures are amazing, so crisp and clear!!

the jay as well, your images are gorgeous...i guess they all love peanuts, no matter the country!! your blind is beautiful, i am lucky to have a spot inside my house that works like a blind. i would image it gets pretty hot in there!!!

Lowcarb team member said...

Oh my goodness ...
These are just wonderful, wonderful photographs.

Absolutely love your hideaway too!

Well done on your weight-loss, just seen your comment on the low carb diabetic blog.

Have a great week

All the best Jan

Ohmydearests said...

Your squirrel images capture them perfectly! The jays are very beautiful too. Your hideout is just wonderful! Have a beautiful day!

Linda said...

Great photos of the birds and squirrels!

Shiju Sugunan said...

Beautiful squirrels. I find only chipmunks where I live.

hmuxo said...

The squirrel is not only beautiful but I've never seen this color, Sonjia. LOVE your own personal snoop quarters....SO this is your secret in getting the perfect shot.!!! Lol. Enjoy this lovely day...

Jeevan said...

Wow! Adorable series on the little squirrel and excellent hideout shoot from you… love the shot where it take a whole peanut in mouth. I too placed a birdbath and feeder in our courtyard but no bird ever feed from the feeder, perhaps it’s not hanged at a right place for them feed or find out... because we face monkey trouble and putting them out will be destroyed by them.

Pretty Jay!

Rose said...

Wonderful captures of the cute squirrels...and I LOVE your hide!

Bethany Carson said...

Wow, that is so neat you have a hide for photography! Also, your photos of the squirrels and jays are breathtaking! :)

Ranten said...

Hei! We both have them visiting us in the winter. Good homemade birdwatching hide ;-))

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Breathtaking; Oh My♪ What an breathtakingly adorable photos of squirrel and handsome Jay♡♡♡ I LOVE having peanut picture a lot(♡^.^♡) What an idea to have MEASURE HIDE; I REALLY admire you because I AM so clumsy with handwork p:-) Well, I wish I had the nature close by♧♧♧   

Thank you SO much for your sweet comments, Dear friend. See You Soon here.
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend, xoxo Miyako*

Helma said...

Your shelter is really great!
Nice to show this too.
The squirrel is very beautiful, but it is not nice if you ate your feeding table all the days of the food that was intended for the birds.
Have a nice weekend.

Kind regards

Liplatus said...

Really wonderful pictures!
The squirrel is sweet.

carol l mckenna said...

Gorgeous red squirrel and very creative photos ~ love the jay bird too ~ ^_^

eileeninmd said...

Hello, your squirrels images are adorable. Great series. I love the pretty jay too, great post. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

NatureFootstep said...

nice to have your own hide. :) Love the idea and the great shots you got. :) I liek both species bot it is hard to find them and photograph in the wild.

Phil Slade said...

After seeing your photos of Red Squirrel I had forgotten how beautiful they are. The Grey Squirrel has now become dominant in the UK. Love the hide. Those old curtains came in useful after all!

Debbie said...

second visit - the light is so pretty in these!!

Stewart M said...

I like that hide! Makes me smile at all the camouflage ones!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Stuart Price said...

Your races of Red Squirrel and Eurasian Jay are much more vivid than ours in north Japan.........

Anni said...

I'm late coming here this week, sorry for being so delayed. But, wow...such incredible images. What a gorgeous squirrel. Nothing like it here in South Texas!!
And the jay...of course you know I'd love to see these in the wild, this too is nothing like our area, but what a beautiful, beautiful bird!

GREAT photos.

Thanks so much for sharing this with us at I'd Rather B Birdin'. What a treat for the eyes.

Jenn Jilks said...

That is brilliant, your bird blind!
There area lot of people show feed birds in Canada. A national past time. It's nuts, excuse the pun!

betty-NZ said...

I love to see these squirrels as they are new to me (gray ones in the US and none in NZ). You have a fabulous set up for watching nature.

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