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first busy day at the feeders
Oct 15, 2018 21:01:48   #
ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland
 
Today was the first busy day at the bird feeders this fall. I put the first birdseed out last week, and have had nothing but squirrels until today. The trail camera did get one deer nosing around last night. Trying to stretch her neck to reach a feeder. The construction down the street seems to have caused the fox squirrels to move into my yard. They are more aggressive, and larger, than the grey squirrels. Yesterday they knocked over the post for two of the feeders and then did a victory dance on it.
The last picture shows my camera set up. The nearest feeder is about 2 feet form my camera, and the furthest is about 10 feet. I think the glass must be reflective enough that they can ignore me -- unlike the deer who actively pose for me when I go out the back door. But today the birds, especially the purple finches did some nice posing for me, too.

purple finch 1
purple finch 1...
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purple finch 2
purple finch 2...
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lurking around the corner
lurking around the corner...
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purple finch 3
purple finch 3...
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move over please
move over please...
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my "blind"
my "blind"...
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Oct 16, 2018 03:32:54   #
DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia
 
Looks like you have a nice set up there.

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Oct 16, 2018 09:22:07   #
ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland
 
Thanks for looking, DOOK. I have lots of fun

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Oct 16, 2018 16:20:49   #
Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast
 
What delightful shots of your beautiful little diners, ngrea, and thank you for showing us your setup! Looks like you have a combination blind/potting shed? Love it!

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Oct 16, 2018 16:31:37   #
ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland
 
Thank you for looking. It’s actually my den window. I have plants on a table by the window

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Oct 16, 2018 16:44:09   #
Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast
 
ngrea wrote:
Thank you for looking. It’s actually my den window. I have plants on a table by the window


Oops!

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Jan 7, 2019 13:32:34   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
ngrea wrote:
Today was the first busy day at the bird feeders this fall. I put the first birdseed out last week, and have had nothing but squirrels until today. The trail camera did get one deer nosing around last night. Trying to stretch her neck to reach a feeder. The construction down the street seems to have caused the fox squirrels to move into my yard. They are more aggressive, and larger, than the grey squirrels. Yesterday they knocked over the post for two of the feeders and then did a victory dance on it.
The last picture shows my camera set up. The nearest feeder is about 2 feet form my camera, and the furthest is about 10 feet. I think the glass must be reflective enough that they can ignore me -- unlike the deer who actively pose for me when I go out the back door. But today the birds, especially the purple finches did some nice posing for me, too.
Today was the first busy day at the bird feeders t... (show quote)


Names Bill. Annapolis. Interesting they you have fox squirrels. Where, may I ask, are you located? I am familiar with Delmarva Fox Squirrels, but not these. Would you post a picture or two. The Delmarva are seen in Presquile in Talbot Co. On Wye Island, in Queen Anne's, and in Blackwater Refuge in Dorchester Co. Two feet head to tail, are twice the size of grey squirrels. More wary than the grey, stick to ground more. Thanks.
Bill

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Jan 12, 2019 14:58:42   #
ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland
 
newtoyou wrote:
Names Bill. Annapolis. Interesting they you have fox squirrels. Where, may I ask, are you located? I am familiar with Delmarva Fox Squirrels, but not these. Would you post a picture or two. The Delmarva are seen in Presquile in Talbot Co. On Wye Island, in Queen Anne's, and in Blackwater Refuge in Dorchester Co. Two feet head to tail, are twice the size of grey squirrels. More wary than the grey, stick to ground more. Thanks.
Bill

I'm in Sandy Spring(Montgomery county). Our fox squirrels are smaller than yours. Here is a picture of one. They moved into my yard when construction started down the street, but they seem to have moved on now. I'm glad. The grey squirrels are bad enough. The fox squirrels could jump a couple of feet further than the greys can ,and with enough power that they knocked one of the shepherd's crooks over.


(Download)

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Jan 12, 2019 15:39:34   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
ngrea wrote:
I'm in Sandy Spring(Montgomery county). Our fox squirrels are smaller than yours. Here is a picture of one. They moved into my yard when construction started down the street, but they seem to have moved on now. I'm glad. The grey squirrels are bad enough. The fox squirrels could jump a couple of feet further than the greys can ,and with enough power that they knocked one of the shepherd's crooks over.


Would you get a pic or two of the gray squirrels. Not To be argumentative, but not convinced this is a fox squirrel. That are fully two feet from nose to tail and this time of year are a soft, furry gray with an overwash of the summer color. Belly rarely colored.
And my caveat, I have been wrong before.
Sandy Springs was a quiet place when I used to pass thru in the 90's. Hope it still has the rural appeal.
Bill

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Jan 12, 2019 16:09:45   #
ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland
 
newtoyou wrote:
Would you get a pic or two of the gray squirrels. Not To be argumentative, but not convinced this is a fox squirrel. That are fully two feet from nose to tail and this time of year are a soft, furry gray with an overwash of the summer color. Belly rarely colored.
And my caveat, I have been wrong before.
Sandy Springs was a quiet place when I used to pass thru in the 90's. Hope it still has the rural appeal.
Bill

Here is a grey squirrel who is so stuffed with bird seed it can't jump across to the feeder. Normally I never see any orange on the squirrels. I'm not an expert on naming wildlife (I just like to take pictures), but my neighbor, who does identify all the birds, etc. called the other ones fox squirrels. Maybe they are cross-bred?
Sandy Spring is zoned "rural", but is managing to grow anyway. But it has the feel of a small town, partly because many of the Quaker and African American families have lived here for generations creating a tight community. The core of the Quaker part of town is the Meeting House, Quaker school and Quaker retirement community. We also have three museums and the Underground Railroad Experience plus a recreation center and Adventure Park (zip lines) -- all of which make it seem richer in experiences than a typical rural town.


(Download)

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Jan 12, 2019 23:01:01   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
ngrea wrote:
Here is a grey squirrel who is so stuffed with bird seed it can't jump across to the feeder. Normally I never see any orange on the squirrels. I'm not an expert on naming wildlife (I just like to take pictures), but my neighbor, who does identify all the birds, etc. called the other ones fox squirrels. Maybe they are cross-bred?
Sandy Spring is zoned "rural", but is managing to grow anyway. But it has the feel of a small town, partly because many of the Quaker and African American families have lived here for generations creating a tight community. The core of the Quaker part of town is the Meeting House, Quaker school and Quaker retirement community. We also have three museums and the Underground Railroad Experience plus a recreation center and Adventure Park (zip lines) -- all of which make it seem richer in experiences than a typical rural town.
Here is a grey squirrel who is so stuffed with bir... (show quote)



The second squirrel makes me think of an Amazing Rhythm Aces album, Too Stuffed to Jump. What this is is, I believe, is a common name confusion. I believe both squirrels are Eastern Gray Squirrels, Scirus carolinensis. Not the Eastern Fox Squirrel, S. niger. Again, I may be wrong. Any second opinions?
They could be hybridized, but it would not be likely in nature. The sure way to tell is teeth, gray has 22, fox squirrel, 20. Moot point, I know. Nice shooting. Thanks for responces.
Bill

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Jan 12, 2019 23:08:41   #
ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland
 
newtoyou wrote:
The sure way to tell is teeth, gray has 22, fox squirrel, 20....
Bill


Next time I’m brushing their teeth I’ll count them😁

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Jan 12, 2019 23:44:22   #
newtoyou Loc: Eastport
 
ngrea wrote:
Next time I’m brushing their teeth I’ll count them😁


That would be worth a photo or two

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