Excellent Publication.

I can thoroughly recommend this book by Helen Butler for anyone who loves Red Squirrels,particularly on the Isle of Wight. ISBN number 978-0-9552314-6-9.

I do not often come across Reds, but recently while in Bouldnor Forest this one made itself known.While keeping its distance and up the safety of the conifer he or she seemed to take delight in showing off.(Image considerably enlarged).

Alverstone Mead nature reserve is well known for its Red Squirrel feeding station situated in a raised hide overlooking the water meadows.Here the small number of Reds on the reserve regularly visit the hide to enjoy the handouts supplied by the visitors.They seem to be fearless of humans and will quite happily enter the hide when occupied.

Red squirrels do not hibernate but on any sunny day throughout the winter months they will take the opportunity to forage.

Yesterday was a beautiful springlike day with warm sunshine and a light breeze,so this Red was out and about after any available food.Still sporting its winter ear tufts, the tufts will be lost as the summer approach's.

Photograph by kind permission of Ian Giles

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A drey is a nest built by the red squirrel in the forks of branches,situated close to the main trunk.It is made up of twigs and leaves and the hollow inside is lined with moss,grass and hair.

Depending on the size of the red squirrels territory the two or three dreys it builds may be close together or considerably farther apart.When territories overlap it is known for squirrels to share their dreys with their neighbours during the winter and early spring.This sharing normally stops in the late spring and summer when the females are raising their young.

This drey was found in Walters Copse,Newtown.

A sunny day in mid-March and a good time to see Reds as they forage on the woodland floor and scamper up and down the tree trunks.No leaves on the trees as yet to hide them or any thick undergrowth.