Nutkin

We used to get several red squirrels visiting our garden every day.  Over the years they slowly dwindled to just one or two on most days, then now and again, then just the occasional one.  We haven't seen one for about six months, so it was a treat to look out of the window this morning and spot this.

As you can see it is very much aware of my presence, and is letting me know I am unwelcome by making a chuck-chucking noise and rapidly flicking its tail.  This one has particularly long ear-tufts.

One notable thing about squirrels, that shows well on this photo, is their articulated hind leg joints, which they rotate 180 degrees to give their claws better grip when descending.