Uninvited guest at the bird feeder...

No birds at the feeder, due to this character showing up today...

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VERY nice photos, Anders.

You seem to have quite a mechanized hi-tech feeder there. For N. American gray/black squirrel though, your feeder would be like an open bar, a "bird" feeder in its name only.

Thanks Petkal!

I need to do something about this, the squirrels are just too good at climbing. It's fun to watch but the food isn't really for them.

The bird feeder works great, I just haul it in to refill it. I described it in an earlier thread here, and it's resulted in several bird pictures I'm quite pleased with (I've posted some of those in a couple of other threads as well).

Nice pictures, both of them. Your squirrels have a lovely coat - ours are much more towards the gray. Squirrels work our cylindrical feeder too. If they are there too lone, I go aourside and chide them away.

super shots n#2 is my fav

I like both shots. The first one because it shows the ingenuity, audacity and tenacity of these guys. Your bird feeder set up is ingenious in that it allows you easy acssess and also sets up some beautiful bird shots. It is also a little tykes gym and playhouse for the squirrels. If its anywhere near a tree then it is theirs for the taking. I have several feeders hanging from trees but they are hanging 15 or more feet down from branches and the slippery coted nylon wire is not squirrel friendly. I have baffled one as well and ( keeping my fingers crossed) these feeders have been squirrel free for more than 6 months now. I know a guy who periodically oils the nylon coated wire he uses and the squirrels learned very quickly not to test it.

The second shot is perfect....beautiful color and detail.

Little beast! Got what he deserved... and despite your feeders technical climbing equipment!

Thanks guys!
I pulled the feeder out a couple of feet from the tree and the squirrel is stumped! (I hope)
Maybe I can get a shot of him jumping through the air...

FretNoMore wrote:
Thanks guys!
I pulled the feeder out a couple of feet from the tree and the squirrel is stumped! (I hope)
Maybe I can get a shot of him jumping through the air...

That last sentence was meant as a joke, but...

It didn't help to pull the feeder further out, the squirrel just laughed at me
and launched an assault from the air!

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Still too close.....I have seen them ( especially red squirrels) use the action of a pine branch to springboard them to the feeder. It has to be far enough away to defeat the squirrels abilities, but that could undermine what you are trying to do here ( proximity to the tree for bird in the tree shots...right?). At the same time, birds wont go to a feeder if a squirrel is on or near it. Squirrel proof feeder is another option but the suet hanging would have to be in a metal cage. Good luck.....nice action shot on the squirrel btw

Fantastic shots, makes me pine for a good lens like this and the time to practice in order to master it like you have.

This is the first in-flght shot of a non-flying tree shark I have ever seen !
Excellent !
I betcha Mitcon will be green with envy when he sees this !

I love that first shot of the squirrel hanging off the feeder. I finally bought a "squirrel-proof" feeder. I wasn't expecting much, but it has actually worked exactly as advertised. Before filling it, one sets the weight sensitivity. If something that weighs more than the threshold climbs on, the feeder holes are covered.

Priceless! All three!!

FretNoMore wrote:
It didn't help to pull the feeder further out, the squirrel just laughed at me and launched an assault from the air!

You have also discovered a brand new art form, namely Bird Bokeh. A mastery rendition of what looks like a Chickadee, thus earning double points but it could also be a Great Tit, thus earning triple points on account of his double-entendre based surname.

Well done!!