Comments on: Are There Red Squirrels in Lincolnshire ? http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire A Site About Everything and Nothing Thu, 17 May 2012 20:26:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on Are There Red Squirrels in Lincolnshire ? by: chris keyworth http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9332 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:24:04 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9332 I spent a few days in Derbyshire at Edale recently, and happened to see some Reds there, its a nice easy one by train when they are running, only 25 quid open return and there is loads of camping sites there between 3 and 6 pounds a night. great walking and great views too Chris I spent a few days in Derbyshire at Edale recently, and happened to see some Reds there, its a nice easy one by train when they are running, only 25 quid open return and there is loads of camping sites there between 3 and 6 pounds a night.

great walking and great views too

Chris

]]> Comment on Are There Red Squirrels in Lincolnshire ? by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9331 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:15:23 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9331 Juli, I know what you mean - I used to see them as pests and I know I got looking for them almost every evening when I go for an early evening walk after dinner. Thanks for the tip about the Lake District, it's time I went back up there - now, if only I knew somebody who goes there regularly and has high flying connections with a hotel . . . better still a relation perhaps :twisted: Juli,
I know what you mean - I used to see them as pests and I know I got looking for them almost every evening when I go for an early evening walk after dinner.

Thanks for the tip about the Lake District, it’s time I went back up there - now, if only I knew somebody who goes there regularly and has high flying connections with a hotel . . . better still a relation perhaps :twisted:

]]> Comment on Are There Red Squirrels in Lincolnshire ? by: juli http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9326 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:58:26 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9326 Even though they're pests, I still went 'aww!' at the photo of the grey squirrel! They're cheeky little tykes though, I've got an amazingly cute photo of a grey squirrel who would come right up to the patio door of the villa we stayed in at Center Parcs in Sherwood Forest and tap on the glass in the morning, waiting to be fed (bread being his favourite, which he would then fight the ducks for!) Red squirrels are truly beautiful though - I'm lucky enough to live less than 10 miles from Northumberland, where there is quite a colony in the countryside. One of the best places I've been to see red squirrels was center parcs in the lake district though - I know they're supposed to be endangered but the place was teeming with them! Even though they’re pests, I still went ‘aww!’ at the photo of the grey squirrel! They’re cheeky little tykes though, I’ve got an amazingly cute photo of a grey squirrel who would come right up to the patio door of the villa we stayed in at Center Parcs in Sherwood Forest and tap on the glass in the morning, waiting to be fed (bread being his favourite, which he would then fight the ducks for!)
Red squirrels are truly beautiful though - I’m lucky enough to live less than 10 miles from Northumberland, where there is quite a colony in the countryside. One of the best places I’ve been to see red squirrels was center parcs in the lake district though - I know they’re supposed to be endangered but the place was teeming with them!

]]> Comment on Are There Red Squirrels in Lincolnshire ? by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9320 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:57:00 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9320 Lucy, thanks for that - just the ticket, situation clarified - good link too ! It's a great squirrel story and a coincidence in some ways because as I sat in my garden the other day I wondered why birds don't seem to fly into houses ! There are doors and windows open, they always fly into closed windows but never through open ones - well not in my experience anyway. Reassuring to know you had a good guard dog :) All the best Rod Lucy,
thanks for that - just the ticket, situation clarified - good link too !
It’s a great squirrel story and a coincidence in some ways because as I sat in my garden the other day I wondered why birds don’t seem to fly into houses !
There are doors and windows open, they always fly into closed windows but never through open ones - well not in my experience anyway.

Reassuring to know you had a good guard dog :)
All the best
Rod

]]> Comment on Are There Red Squirrels in Lincolnshire ? by: Lucy http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9319 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:45:50 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9319 It's a kestrel. See a similar one at: http://www.surfbirds.com/mb/Features/in-flight/birds-in-flight.html (scroll down to 3rd picture). I'm originally from the North-east and have spotted quite a few red squirrels in my time. Once one came into my parents' house! It ran into the living-room through the open patio doors, jumped around the room never touching the floor but bouncing off the mantlepiece, tables and book-cases. It got to the window at the front, knocked on the glass and then bounded back out of the patio doors! It terrified the dog who cowered in the doorway, whimpering. All best, Lucy It’s a kestrel.
See a similar one at: http://www.surfbirds.com/mb/Features/in-flight/birds-in-flight.html (scroll down to 3rd picture).
I’m originally from the North-east and have spotted quite a few red squirrels in my time. Once one came into my parents’ house! It ran into the living-room through the open patio doors, jumped around the room never touching the floor but bouncing off the mantlepiece, tables and book-cases. It got to the window at the front, knocked on the glass and then bounded back out of the patio doors! It terrified the dog who cowered in the doorway, whimpering.
All best, Lucy

]]> Comment on Are There Red Squirrels in Lincolnshire ? by: chris keyworth http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9296 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:27:28 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9296 The black squirrel is also likely to make life even harder for our native red squirrels. A study by Cambridge scientists shows that black squirrels now make up half the squirrel population in some parts of the UK. The upstarts are genetic mutations of greys, but have a darker fur and higher levels of the male sex hormone testosterone - making them more aggressive and more successful. There are fears the black squirrels could wipe out the greys Geneticist Helen McRobie and Dr Alison Thomas, a professor of life sciences, both from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, conducted the first UK study of black squirrels. "The population is expanding across the region and is spreading further every year," said Dr McRobie. "They could overrun most of the Eastern counties within ten years." The black squirrel is the result of a single mutation in the DNA of greys, giving them higher levels of the pigment melanin in their fur. Sex selection is also boosting their numbers because female greys appear to prefer them as mates. Dr Thomas, who completed the year-long study last week, used DNA samples taken from squirrels across East Anglia. She said: "There has been a recent population boom. They are due to overtake the grey squirrel population in some parts of the country. "The first sighting was in 1912, but sightings were very rare until the last few years. They were first spotted around Letchworth Garden City, near Royston, Hertfordshire - currently home to the UK's largest colony. The rise of the black is the biggest change in squirrel demographics since the indigenous red squirrels almost disappeared 50 years ago from most of England. Lindsey Maguire, 50, who has co-ordinated the National Squirrel Rescue team for the last 12 years, agreed that blacks were becoming a more common sight. she added: "The irony of it is the blacks were first spotted in a similar area to where the greys were introduced to Britain. "Now they may well get their just deserts. I wonder how long it would be before we see a "save the grey" campaign." from a newspaper article regards chris The black squirrel is also likely to make life even harder for our native red squirrels.
A study by Cambridge scientists shows that black squirrels now make up half the squirrel population in some parts of the UK.
The upstarts are genetic mutations of greys, but have a darker fur and higher levels of the male sex hormone testosterone - making them more aggressive and more successful.

There are fears the black squirrels could wipe out the greys
Geneticist Helen McRobie and Dr Alison Thomas, a professor of life sciences, both from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, conducted the first UK study of black squirrels.
“The population is expanding across the region and is spreading further every year,” said Dr McRobie.
“They could overrun most of the Eastern counties within ten years.”
The black squirrel is the result of a single mutation in the DNA of greys, giving them higher levels of the pigment melanin in their fur.
Sex selection is also boosting their numbers because female greys appear to prefer them as mates.
Dr Thomas, who completed the year-long study last week, used DNA samples taken from squirrels across East Anglia.

She said: “There has been a recent population boom. They are due to overtake the grey squirrel population in some parts of the country.
“The first sighting was in 1912, but sightings were very rare until the last few years. They were first spotted around Letchworth Garden City, near Royston, Hertfordshire - currently home to the UK’s largest colony.

The rise of the black is the biggest change in squirrel demographics since the indigenous red squirrels almost disappeared 50 years ago from most of England.
Lindsey Maguire, 50, who has co-ordinated the National Squirrel Rescue team for the last 12 years, agreed that blacks were becoming a more common sight.
she added: “The irony of it is the blacks were first spotted in a similar area to where the greys were introduced to Britain.
“Now they may well get their just deserts. I wonder how long it would be before we see a “save the grey” campaign.”

from a newspaper article

regards
chris

]]> Comment on Are There Red Squirrels in Lincolnshire ? by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9295 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:50:03 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9295 Chris, Black Squirrels !!!!! That sounds like a photo' op' to me Best Rod Chris,
Black Squirrels !!!!!
That sounds like a photo’ op’ to me
Best
Rod

]]> Comment on Are There Red Squirrels in Lincolnshire ? by: chris keyworth http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9293 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:40:37 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9293 The simple answer to this question is NO there isnt any Reds in our neck of the woods, however there are Black Squirles in our area and there has been sightings in the woods around Elsham Village, i am not sure exactly which wood but i hazard a guese that the sightings are from Elsham Hall.... Regards Chris The simple answer to this question is NO there isnt any Reds in our neck of the woods, however there are Black Squirles in our area and there has been sightings in the woods around Elsham Village, i am not sure exactly which wood but i hazard a guese that the sightings are from Elsham Hall….
Regards
Chris

]]> Comment on Are There Red Squirrels in Lincolnshire ? by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9273 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:12:29 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9273 Annie, I think that comment just about sums it up ! Any perceived failings in the youth of today is largely our fault as parents, role models, authority figures or just simply what we've done to the environment in which they were brought up. There will always be exceptions, at both the good and bad end of the scale, but generally kids strike me as being no different to everything else in life . . . You Get Out What You Put In I certainly was best avoided Annie not only then but now as well :) I prefer not to think of my youth as it impedes my ability to be so sanctimonious now ;) Cheers Rod Annie,
I think that comment just about sums it up !
Any perceived failings in the youth of today is largely our fault as parents, role models, authority figures or just simply what we’ve done to the environment in which they were brought up.

There will always be exceptions, at both the good and bad end of the scale, but generally kids strike me as being no different to everything else in life . . .
You Get Out What You Put In

I certainly was best avoided Annie not only then but now as well :)
I prefer not to think of my youth as it impedes my ability to be so sanctimonious now ;)
Cheers
Rod

]]> Comment on Are There Red Squirrels in Lincolnshire ? by: Annie Flinn http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9272 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:11:52 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/are-there-red-squirrels-in-lincolnshire#comment-9272 A great post. Teens do come with their fair share of bumps and warts, but 33 years spent with them in schools showed me that they live up to whatever is expected of them. If we expect them to be dolts, that's what they'll be. I found, too, that most of them respond to the effective parent model (with an emphasis on "effective") which stresses a fair, firm, consistent attitude from the adult who is in charge. That is not to say that I didn't have some real pips, gang bangers, and some who I fear were mentally ill. But, as I recently read in a book by the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan, using exercise, discipline, and affection usually wins the day. Kudos to you for seeing the young men as human beings first, and wild things last. It is hard to remember that at one time, people avoided our younger selves, as well. Annie A great post. Teens do come with their fair share of bumps and warts, but 33 years spent with them in schools showed me that they live up to whatever is expected of them. If we expect them to be dolts, that’s what they’ll be. I found, too, that most of them respond to the effective parent model (with an emphasis on “effective”) which stresses a fair, firm, consistent attitude from the adult who is in charge. That is not to say that I didn’t have some real pips, gang bangers, and some who I fear were mentally ill. But, as I recently read in a book by the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan, using exercise, discipline, and affection usually wins the day. Kudos to you for seeing the young men as human beings first, and wild things last. It is hard to remember that at one time, people avoided our younger selves, as well.

Annie

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