Red Squirrel Encounter - How Rare?

**Nightwalker** · 12-07-2007, 22:04

I've never seen a Red Squirrel in my life

I was just wondering how many of us here have seen'em and if so where abouts? How rare are they these days?

I would love to meet one like this

:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-r-fGdLRmQ

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3LRNZTR_pw

**SOAR** · 12-07-2007, 22:08

I saw my first one last week, the guy I was working with saw it first actually it was in a residential area up a very large horsechestnut tree. You had to look really hard to spot it.

**mace242** · 12-07-2007, 22:09

Brownsea Island - I feel kind of like a cheat...

**British Red** · 12-07-2007, 22:16

I've seen many in the Lake District years ago. Most recently I saw one on Altcar rifle range near Southport. I was just walking down to the buts and he was sat on a branch eating an acorn. Cute little fellah. Theres a couple of reserves up around there where they are still fairly well established

Red

**JonnyP** · 12-07-2007, 22:22

Last one I saw was crossing a lane in cumbria, a few years ago....They used to have a stronghold at tonbridge castle in kent, when I was a lad, but they are no longer there...

**Mirius** · 12-07-2007, 22:23

Isle of Wight, still a good number there.

**mikehill** · 12-07-2007, 22:47

Formby and the Lakes

**Goose** · 13-07-2007, 01:22

Seen them a few times, Formby is good and brownsea island, but the centreparks place in the lakes is teeming with red squirrels, best bit about the week I spent trapped there!

**nigelp** · 13-07-2007, 06:42

Originally Posted by Mirius

Isle of Wight, still a good number there.

Plenty over here!!

**KAE1** · 13-07-2007, 07:55

Originally Posted by nigelp

Plenty over here!!

Are there no Greys on the Isle of Wight and Brownsea??

**jdlenton** · 13-07-2007, 08:20

formby and just out side inverness for me i've not seen one for a very long time though. i have been meening to get a trip organised so my wife can see one as she never have

J*

**scanker** · 13-07-2007, 08:38

Grizedale in the Lake District for me, a few years ago now.

We're on holiday near Poole later in the year, and hope to be able to go across to Brownsea Island when we're there.

**Matt Weir** · 13-07-2007, 08:46

Aiye, as Goose and jdlenton say Formby Point is teaming with them but I think that sadly it is one of the last outposts. The good news it is a protected National Trust site.

If you're ever up North Nightwalker then be sure to visit - you won't be disappointed

**Wayland** · 13-07-2007, 08:56

Wild in this country the last I saw was at Ingleborough a few years back.

Semi wild Formby of course

In Northern Norway you can't move for fear of treading on the wee critters....

**fred gordon** · 13-07-2007, 09:18

Having read the posts above I consider myself very lucky. Red squirrels come to my bird nut feeders on a regular basis. There are also lots of them in the area where I live. There are a few greys, but very few, and the Forestry Commission and the local sporting estates keep their numbers as low as they can.

**Toddy** · 13-07-2007, 09:25

Last week, runnning along the wall bedsides the pavement on the Main Road. It runs next to the woodlands of the golf course, in the old castle policies.
It's mostly greys around here now though. There are a few patches of Scots Pine and the reds seem to prefer them.

cheers,
Toddy

**dwardo** · 13-07-2007, 09:37

Never

Its now on my list though

I was under the impression they were pretty well contained to only a few protected areas and i didnt realise they are so prevelent in the lakes. Thanks for the info all.....

**gregorach** · 13-07-2007, 09:45

Saw one once, many years ago, just outside West Linton in the Borders...

**Ben_Hillwalker** · 13-07-2007, 10:59

First one I ever saw was in the French Pyrenees and was do dark red it was almost black.

The last one I saw was well over a year ago on a day trip Brownsea Island. Saw my very first spoonbill on that trip too.

**dtalbot** · 13-07-2007, 12:11

Saw a couple at Killhope mining museaum near Durham

**Nightwalker** · 13-07-2007, 14:01

Round figures so far: 40 people have voted, 30 (75%) have seen'em 10 (25%) havent. Wish I was one of those who had!

**andyn** · 13-07-2007, 16:13

Have never seen one in England. Saw one in Scotland last Summer up near Pitlochry and another over in Sweden.

not the best pic in the world, but this was the one over in Sweden (its the blur in the middle lol ):

**fredcraft** · 13-07-2007, 16:55

Where my parents live, they are more or a nuisance (yep many lil red fellas around) as they tend to make their "nest" inside houses rooftop/walls.

We even bought a trap in order to catch and release them in the wild (a few kilometers away from my parent's house)

So yeah, I've seen more than my share of red squirrels, but also chipmonks, in my life. In the city where I live I've never seen a red one, only big gray ones. Which is the complete opposite of where my parents live where they saw their very first gray squirrel last week !!! The thing was BIG lemme tell you... must really make a lovely stew

**Silverback** · 13-07-2007, 17:10

In Thetford Forest when I was ten years old (28 years ago)

**locum76** · 13-07-2007, 18:36

used to see them as a lad at a dairy farm we lived on near milnathort. absolutely nixy fang doodle since then though.

**Ranger Bob** · 13-07-2007, 18:41

In Thetford forest, out of my back window, about half an hour ago was the last time I saw one. I usually see at least one, once a week.

**-Switch-** · 13-07-2007, 19:28

I, unfortunately, have never seen one

Seen - and eaten - plenty of greys though. They're good curried

Is it true there are no squirrels whatsoever in the Channel Islands?

**Steve27752** · 13-07-2007, 20:44

Ditto Brownsea Island during a Cub Camp.
Steve

Originally Posted by mace242

Brownsea Island - I feel kind of like a cheat...

**Jodie** · 13-07-2007, 21:53

If there are any red squirrels in South London they must also be invisible - never seen
one anywhere else either that I can remember. I might have, as a child, but to be
honest I wouldn't have cared that much. Would like to see one now though.

**sxmolloy** · 13-07-2007, 22:09

Only at Formy Point IIRC.

Video clip:

S0.rry about the very poor quality and shakiness of the clip.

Heres a poor photo for you too!

ATB....Stu

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