The blog has been off-line for the past week, It wasn't supposed to be like that but  a trip up north for a family visit and really dreary weather whilst there meant there was very little opportunity to do any wildlife watching.  I had some fun in the garden at my son's new Huddersfield house.  At the moment it is just a small patch of brown earth with a bird feeding station which does attract some tit species and apparently, last week, a small flock of Siskins passed through. Squirrels are very regular visitors and because we don't see them here in my Exeter garden, I enjoyed the chance to get some portraits.

A few Grey Squirrel facts:

• Grey Squirrels – Sciurus Carolinensis  are native to the USA
• They were introduced to the UK by the Duke of Bedford.
• Greys can carry a virus that is lethal to Reds.
• Greys and Reds are rarely, if ever found in the same area.
• A Grey Squirrel can be twice the size of a native Red.
• Some adult Grey Squirrels have a redish tinge on the back.
• Grey Squirrels are absent from mainland Europe.