A drizzly start to the day precluded any excursions to the fields before work, but at lunchtime I did manage to stretch my legs though there was surprisingly little to see. In fact, apart from an occasional gull and a few rooks and jackdaws the only wildlife I saw was a local squirrel. The behaviour was quite unlike the London squirrels of a month or so ago. This one was cautious and headed for the safety of the trees as quickly as it could.
Back home, I'm beginning to wonder whether we will see any frog spawn this year. It's late and there are only a few frogs in the pond (five at the last count). A couple of them had their heads above the surface tonight. In this photo you can clearly see the membrane that protects their eyes when submerged.
They were also spotted by a fox (Shutterbug). The frog is the light coloured blob in the right foreground.
Not for long though. This frog at least had a healthy sense of self-preservation and quickly ducked down below the surface.
With teeth like these just a few inches away, I'm not surprised.
Camera note: squirrel photographed with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. I used the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens for the frog and fox shots.
RobinL
10 Mar 2011Words, what a great set of canines! Looks like he's going to be the star of the backyard!
I like the way the squirrel is sitting so calm with it's hands crossed wait for you to take you leave!
gdare
10 Mar 2011Do they eat frogs? :left:
wellisteffi
10 Mar 2011The fox in the last photo looks very dangerous. :eyes:
SittingFox
10 Mar 2011A real squirrel! 😉
Our frogs appear later than yours, although we do have frogspawn now (not that I expect it survive – we almost never get any adult frogs out of it 🙁 ) Strange though.
Words
11 Mar 2011Steffi, not really 😉 He was eating!
Words
11 Mar 2011Darko, yes foxes eat frogs :chef: Evidence from a few years ago.
Mickeyjoe-Irl
11 Mar 2011SB looks so close to going for a swim. 😀
Words
11 Mar 2011Adele, yes it seems odd to see squirrels that run away, climb trees and don't expect pockets full of peanuts! Our frog spawn situation changed dramatically overnight. 🙂
Words
11 Mar 2011Robin, yes the fox is doing well, though we do have a very cute badger if only I could get a photo. I will post some trail cam footage soon. The squirrel dashed up there… and taunted me!
cakkleberrylane
11 Mar 2011WOW!! Huge teeth and an angry expression as well. I'm glas I'm not the objecy of his attention!
Words
11 Mar 2011Mick, I wouldn't be surprised if he falls in, but it's not too deep so he'll be ok. Wet, but ok!
Words
11 Mar 2011Lois, he looks scarier than he is. The lips aren't curled back, so this isn't serious.
gdare
11 Mar 2011Originally posted by Words:
:yikes: