Finger-lickin' good!

Mr. Red Squirrel is the only squirrel brave enough to come into my yard. We used to have many squirrel visitors, but they caught on to our dogs... Our last dog, years ago, gave them chase, but was utterly harmless. Our current dogs... well, let's just say a slow squirrel isn't gonna survive. These days most squirrels just come to the edge of our property (not an obvious line, as it is in the woods, but they have learned) tease the dogs and chirp and twitch.

The red squirrel is the smallest one of all around here. His body is only 5-6 inches long. But, every day he crosses our deck to get from one neighbor that feeds the birds to the other. (We don't because it attracts lots of nocturnal nuisances - not a good when you let the dog out at night.) Mr. Red is quick and leery. If I turn my head, from inside the house, he is GONE lickity split. Today, however, he found the sprinkle of black-oiler seeds I left for him on the railing and was willing to pose while I clicked off shots through the window. (Hence the soft focus, couldn't possibly be operator error...) ;) One of the dogs came up the stairs as I was shooting away. Good things she minds... as I say, "sit, stay" without looking away from the squirrel. Mr. Red even stayed to wash his hands after the snack I had left him. Did you notice the squirrel's little tongue?

I have enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels next door while my neighbor has been gone this month. But they will be back in a week or so. So, I have been concocting a plan to feeding the birds in an area of the yard that the dogs wont be. Hard to explain, but beyond the garage there is an area that their fence doesn't reach. I think I can set up a spot for bird attraction and not worry about skunks, raccoons and the like near the house in the evening. I guess I'm not ready to give up the photo ops. :) It's been fun practicing bird photography and, due to that practice, easier to know how to shoot when I come across them in the wild.

Saw another sign of spring... a chipmunk! Don't usually see them until the snow is mostly gone. This weather has everyone confused. Could it be that he knows something I don't and spring is just around the corner???