Mammals

Red Squirrels in Volkspark Hasenheide

October 24, 2007 by Corey 4 Comments

In addition to the birds I saw in Berlin’s Volkspark Hasenheide I also saw Eurasian Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). These are not the tiny North American Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) that I’m used to but bigger beasts with adorable ear tufts. I only saw a couple, and both were in the northwestern part of the park, near a fenced-in cemetery which I assume gave them a place to retreat to when harassed by the all-too-common-in-Berlin unleashed dogs.

I was amazed by their acrobatic abilities and I would think that they would give Grey Squirrels a run for their money. I would think that, anyway, if I didn’t know what has happened in competition between the two in Britain.

Anyway, my first encounter with a Eurasian Red Squirrel was a distant look that gradually got better as the squirrel got closer. I came within inches of getting a great shot of it leaping. Just to share my misery here it is:

ouch...why couldn't I get the focus right?

just a bit out of focus

I like this shot much more, despite the rather poor light.

Red Squirrel...look at those ears!

How cool are those ears?

The last picture I got, and none of these pictures do this adorable mammal justice, should have been a full-frame picture of the the squirrel on the ground. But just as it was about to emerge from behind some bushes within about two meters of me, in perfect light, a mangy, foul, evil, unleashed dog came along and scared it up a tree, leaving me with this so-so consolation shot that at least captures its color rather well:

Red Squirrel

Anyway, seeing a new species of squirrel was a treat and I hoped you liked these rather average shots. But if you want to see some good pictures, well, we here at 10,000 Birds are here to please. Just click here.

Written by Corey
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.