A symbol of Britain - the Red Squirrel.

[Miss Z]

This beautiful creature, already rather rare in the British Isles, has taken another battering of late due to the squirrel pox virus. I went up to Formby Point, one of the few remaining strongholds of the animal, in late July, and only managed to spot one this year. Usually, I'd find, at the very least, five or so.

Still, the one I did find seemed healthy and was sporting a very fine summer coat, so I had to take some pics.

[Miss Z]

I also took a quick video of him burying in the pine needles.



Here's a picture of the Formby dunes, purely because I think it's gorgeous. We have some truly lovely, rugged coastline in this part of the country.



And my spot-of-the-day: this is a Meadow Pipit hiding in the grasses.



That's all, hope you enjoyed.

[happylabs]

Wow he is very pretty. We have a lot gray squirrels here in Pennsylvania. I think we also have some red but they are not as prominent. When I go to our park at lunch time I may see up to 10 or more gray ones. They are very busy and also will come up to your vehicle if they smell something tasty.

[phesina]

What a beautiful color! The squirrels around here are a dull brownish-grey color.

And the photos of the dunes and the Pipit are lovely. Thank you!

[blue]

UK Red Squirrel with his North American friend.

[kokopup]

I guess the i 795 Jct is over the next dune.

[ChrisH]

Lovely pictures and video Mizz Z, thank you for sharing with us. Beautiful creature but I've yet to see 'real live' one, though not surprising really.

Dramatic decline

Our once common native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) has suffered a dramatic population decline in the last century, resulting in local extinctions throughout much of south England, Northern Ireland and Wales and is included as a priority species in the UK government 's conservation initiative, the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

In the past, habitat loss and fragmentation contributed to the red squirrel population declines. However, the current threats to the red squirrels' continued survival are thought to be the sustained expansion of populations of the introduced grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and with them the potential of squirrel poxvirus transmission.

Squirrelpox Virus

Squirrelpox virus is deadly to red squirrels. Evidence suggests that it originated from grey squirrels transported from North America and, whilst they appear to carry a natural immunity to it, red squirrels do not. Animals infected with the virus seem to suffer a marked decline in their health and die within around two weeks of contracting it. At present, the spread of squirrelpox virus presents the greatest threat to retaining red squirrels across their current range.

Whilst previously recorded in the north of England, the Scottish red squirrel population appeared to be squirrelpox-free until May 2005. Unfortunately the first grey squirrel showing evidence that it had been exposed to the virus (a ‘seropositive’ animal) was then found in the Borders.

http://www.snh.org.uk/ukredsquirrelgroup/