Grey Squirrels

Richard Costin · #1 (**permalink**) 16-10-2007, 12:22 AM

Managed to sneak a few moments with some Grey Squirrels at the weekend. Good warmup before I trek up to Formby!

Comments and crits more than welcome.

Thanks, Rich

Richard Costin. Photography

Dan Salter · #2 (**permalink**) 16-10-2007, 12:31 AM

You could have wrung their necks at that close distance...what a missed opportunity ha ha ( Sorry im guessing your a fan of these non native blighters)

Excellent pics though mate it must be said.

Richard Costin · #3 (**permalink**) 16-10-2007, 10:16 AM

Most kind, thank you.

Really looking forward to getting up to Formby to see the Red's!

If I was a full time photographer I'd camp out at a site near me, where I know a pure white albino squirrel resides! But alas time........

Rich

TERNAROUND · #4 (**permalink**) 16-10-2007, 02:36 PM

Hi Rich, went down to Formby a couple of weeks back to get some photos of the Red Sqirrels. You don't need a long telephoto zoom, I could easily have got photos with my 28-90 mm lens. I took 78 shots and managed to get prints from only 6. Be warned Red Squirrels run on rocket fuel !!!. What you need to do is go on a diet of pine cones and peanuts for a couple of weeks prior to going, that way you'll be able to move as fast as they do ( the diet works for them ) Seriously though my wife had them taking nuts from her hand, move slow and steady and they will find you, you won't need to look for them.

I've got 34 shots of blurred tails as they can accelerate from 0 to 300 mph in seconds, I'm sure you'll have great fun.

All the best.

Richard Costin · #5 (**permalink**) 16-10-2007, 03:01 PM

Thanks ternaround.

I'm going loaded with the Nikon 70-200 and hopefully my new d3 will have arrived by then. Should be a good chance to test the new AF system.

Going to spend sunup-sundown and another sunup with them, so hopefully I'll come away with something worth while!

Any tips for sections of the park best for this?

Rich

TERNAROUND · #6 (**permalink**) 16-10-2007, 03:10 PM

Hi Rich, 70-200 probably better than the 100-400 I had on, found myself walking backwards to get further away, could easily have got good shots with a wide angle zoom they come that close. There is a designated squirrel walk through pine wood which is where the little blighters are, N.T. chap at the entance reckoned there are about 200 in Formby woods and about 2000 between Liverpool and Southport.

Like I said earlier I'm sure you'll have a great time.

All the best.

TERNAROUND · #7 (**permalink**) 16-10-2007, 03:21 PM

Hi again Rich, just had a thought, don't know if you are planning on going anyway but you are not far from WWT Martin Mere when you get to Formby, only about 6 miles away, a great spot to visit, especially this time of year if you are keen on seeing winter visitors to our shores.

All the best.

naturelover · #8 (**permalink**) 16-10-2007, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Costin

Managed to sneak a few moments with some Grey Squirrels at the weekend. Good warmup before I trek up to Formby!

Comments and crits more than welcome.

Thanks, Rich

Richard Costin. Photography

lovely set of photoes,i love red and grey sqirrels the same as each other,they are both beautiful in their own way.

Richard Costin · #9 (**permalink**) 17-10-2007, 10:04 AM

Thanks naturelover

I'm hoping that the 70-200 will isolate them from their background a little more, (if I can get far enough away from them).

Is the park open 24/7 so I can get in place before sunrise does anyone know?
The WWT is on my list for the trip, the one in London is always great fun.

Many thanks, Richard.

JOHN WEST · #10 (**permalink**) 17-10-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

You could have wrung their necks at that close distance...what a missed opportunity ha ha ( Sorry im guessing your a fan of these non native blighters)

Excellent pics though mate it must be said.

Hi did you happen to catch Wild Gourmets on CH4 last night,they had a recipe for Peking Squirrel ,looks like it could catch