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Okavanga — Red Squirrel

#redsquirrel #squirrel #wildlifephotography #wildbirdphotography #ken_dee_marshes
Published: 2018-03-04 07:19:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 252; Favourites: 39; Downloads: 5
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Description Pushing It.I recently bought a new lens: the Canon Zoom EF 100-400 mm  1:4.5-5.6 L IS II USM. This is the Mark II version of my previous long zoom that I have used for wildlife work. While in Scotland recently, I gave it a test on a dismal, grey day at the Ken Dee Marshes, an RSPB reserve on the banks of Loch Ken in Dumfries and Galloway. I had preset the camera for bird photography with a Tv of 1/1000th second, a floating ISO that turned out to be 6400, and the widest aperture on the lens. The high ISO is a giveaway that the light was very poor and that I was pushing my luck to take anything half-way decent. However, this was a test run to see how the lens fared in adverse conditions. As it turned out, I was remarkably lucky in what I saw and captured even though the quality of the images certainly suffered from the poor light and high ISO.
As I slowly made my way along the track I saw movement in the far distance and a few seconds later a stoat in its winter coat came running towards me. T
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Comments: 31

LindArtz [2018-03-17 02:51:16 +0000 UTC]

"I can dew it"! !!

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Okavanga In reply to LindArtz [2018-03-17 08:11:03 +0000 UTC]

Very funny, Linda....hmmm. 

These guys are really agile.

Many Thanks

David

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LindArtz In reply to Okavanga [2018-03-17 17:11:58 +0000 UTC]

^^

The are indeed!

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Zoomer1958 [2018-03-15 21:40:36 +0000 UTC]

Great action shot, David!  Yep, that's the thing about shooting wildlife--a very fast shutter, which means a high ISO.  But this is one of those photos that makes it all worthwhile.  

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Okavanga In reply to Zoomer1958 [2018-03-16 06:41:37 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much, Brett. They are athletic little devils.

Cheers

David

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rdungan1918 [2018-03-15 19:18:03 +0000 UTC]

I squirrel proofed the bird feeder and now the raccoons raid at night. 

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Okavanga In reply to rdungan1918 [2018-03-16 06:43:34 +0000 UTC]

Yep - sounds about right. We don't have raccoons here, Bob, but urban foxes fill a similar role.

Cheers

David

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mikeloveridge [2018-03-08 08:11:33 +0000 UTC]

agile determined little guy.....

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Okavanga In reply to mikeloveridge [2018-03-08 14:26:57 +0000 UTC]

Agility is their stock in trade, Mike. Astonishingly fast and acrobatic.

Many Thanks

David

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33M [2018-03-06 21:25:32 +0000 UTC]

love love love.......        
Excellent capture of a real beauty..................

M

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Okavanga In reply to 33M [2018-03-07 06:42:41 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks, M. He or she is in good shape, looks to have survived the winter well. The nuts are put out for the squirrels on this reserve to help them survive as an endangered species.

Cheers

David

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33M In reply to Okavanga [2018-03-07 13:44:29 +0000 UTC]

We are also getting short on the number of Reds here up in the North Woods...

My neighbors shoot them on sight, 5 years ago I had quite a few coming to my cabin,
now I see 1 that visits regular.

They are so beautiful, but I did not know they are endangered in your country.

Thank you for that info

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Okavanga In reply to 33M [2018-03-07 17:12:01 +0000 UTC]

"...neighbours shoot them on sight..." Bad people! Red squirrels are good!

The greys took over, but now there are areas, including South-West Scotland where the reds are protected - no greys.

Cheers

David

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33M In reply to Okavanga [2018-03-07 22:49:54 +0000 UTC]

The mind set is quite different in the North Woods...

I have my land posted as no hunting or shooting,
but my little animals do not read really well and
they go all over to visit the lady squirrels....

Another bad thing is that the folks put poison in the animal food
so then the squirrels bring it home with them....

It is too sad to think about, I have become a very vocal animal rights
person, not popular, but I am not going to sit by and watch slaughter
without opening my mouth...

Anyway, I have the greys in abundance, and have names for them.
They are very very sweet shy little creatures...

M

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Okavanga In reply to 33M [2018-03-08 06:35:19 +0000 UTC]

A bit like that still in parts of Scotland. The reason the red kites have had to be re-introduced is because the Scottish landowners and game keepers killed them all for allegedly preying on game birds. But, kites are scavengers not killers. Made no difference to entrenched attitudes.

Cheers

David

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33M In reply to Okavanga [2018-03-08 13:41:16 +0000 UTC]

Entrenched attitudes are passed down and when not fully investigated
by the incoming new generations, they stay entrenched...

And it doesn't just apply to animals and birds......

Ok....Cheers back to you David...

Thanks so much for all your info

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Okavanga In reply to 33M [2018-03-08 14:42:26 +0000 UTC]

Yep!

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Scooby777 [2018-03-06 15:18:58 +0000 UTC]

I would have called this one "little red thief"

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Okavanga In reply to Scooby777 [2018-03-07 06:44:24 +0000 UTC]

Well, these fellas are protected and an endangered species, so the wardens put out nuts for them. They don't predate the birds, but the smaller birds just give the squirrels a wide berth.

Many Thanks

David

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Scooby777 In reply to Okavanga [2018-03-08 02:17:42 +0000 UTC]

Understandably!

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ScarabsCorner [2018-03-05 22:42:49 +0000 UTC]

So cute!

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Okavanga In reply to ScarabsCorner [2018-03-06 06:39:49 +0000 UTC]

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Feytoh [2018-03-05 05:21:29 +0000 UTC]

This guys playing a bit of a balancing act for that food haha
Fantastic capture of the scene David

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Okavanga In reply to Feytoh [2018-03-05 09:05:15 +0000 UTC]

Sure thing, Rachel - these guys are really agile and will pick the best angle for nibbling those nuts. That tail is working hard as a balance.

Many Thanks

David

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LuLupoo [2018-03-04 13:30:41 +0000 UTC]

Hang on fellow I think the bird pushed him lol.

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Okavanga In reply to LuLupoo [2018-03-04 16:08:47 +0000 UTC]

Good point, Lucy - those pesky birds were ganging up on him!

Cheers

David

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LuLupoo In reply to Okavanga [2018-03-04 21:01:47 +0000 UTC]

Aww little fellow I am guessing they dont want to share with him.
Ill share my food with him

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Okavanga In reply to LuLupoo [2018-03-05 09:35:35 +0000 UTC]

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Maria-Schreuders [2018-03-04 10:16:03 +0000 UTC]

Fantastic shot, they are so cute and funny 

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Okavanga In reply to Maria-Schreuders [2018-03-04 16:09:18 +0000 UTC]

Cuteness is their stock-in-trade, Maria - who could not like them?

Many Thanks

David

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Maria-Schreuders In reply to Okavanga [2018-03-05 06:09:13 +0000 UTC]

You're so welcome dear David  

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