The Red Squirrels of Brownsea Island: A Woodland Encounter

 

A backlit image of a Red Squirrel on Brownsea Island.

My second blog in the series I am publishing concerning my trip to Dorset with Paul Coombes features the Red Squirrels of Brownsea Island.

The island is situated in Poole Harbour and is managed by the National Trust, with some areas leased to the Dorset Wildlife Trust. Brownsea is approximately 1.5 miles long and 0.75 miles wide and covers around 500 acres of woodland, heathland and lagoons.

It is famous for being one of the last refuges in England where the native Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) thrive. This is mainly because of the absence of Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), which are non-native and were first introduced to Henbury Park, Cheshire as far back as 1876. Since then, they have been introduced in various locations and they have spread rapidly, displacing our native Red Squirrels.

The Greys outcompete the Reds for food and habitat, but most deadly is the fact that they carry the squirrelpox virus, which is lethal to Reds but harmless to Greys.

I had never seen a Red Squirrel, so I was really looking forward to the trip to Brownsea. Paul "Rushy" Coombes and I caught a boat from the Poole Quayside to get to the island.

Once we arrived at Brownsea and disembarked from the boat, we headed off to explore the island. Behind the church, we had been informed, was a good place to find Red Squirrels.

St Mary's Church on Brownsea

When Paul and I got to the back of the Church, we were quite stunned to see a line of photographers taking pictures of a Red Squirrel. The animal was very mobile at that time, and one of the photographers was chasing around after it, trying to get that ultimate pic using zero fieldcraft! I was not very impressed.

However, things did improve, especially when a lady put some monkey peanuts on a log and the switched on photographers present realised if they stood at a respectful distance, the squirrels would come to you - or rather, they would be attracted to the free food on offer.

The crowd of photographers.

Paul and I waited for things to calm down a bit at a distance, and whilst we were waiting heard the calls of a Firecrest in the pine tree canopy above our heads. We used the Merlin Mobile Phone App to confirm what we were hearing. Then Paul spotted movement in the branches and saw one of the tiny birds foraging amongst the pine tree branches and leaves.

Both Paul and I were able to get some reasonable record shots.

The back of the church

Firecrest

After spending some time having my attention diverted by the Firecrests I noticed that things had got a little quieter by where the Red Squirrels were showing so I settled down and enjoyed the show as they came in to nibble on a few of the nuts that had been left for them.

A Red Squirrel braves the paparazzi.

I tried to get some different perspectives of these little mammals that would stand out from the crowd so to speak. Three squirrels were taking turns to plunder the free food.

A classic Squirrel Nutkin pose right out of a Beatrix Potter book.

 I must admit they are more dainty than their Grey cousins and a lot more attractive. Their ear tufts look fantastic, and they reminded me of the Tufty Road Safety Club from the seventies when I was a child in the 1970s.

By originally Elsie Mills MBE - Original publication: British Royal Society for the Prevention of AccidentsImmediate source: Telegraph article about the 60th anniversary of the character, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41322339

The Reds are a lot more dainty than their Grey cousins.

After enjoying the squirrels, it was time to explore more of the island with the time we had. Unfortunately, the only views from the "tern" birds hide were that of Black-headed Gulls in their legions. However, further out on a sandbar was a flock of Sandwich Terns and a rare visitor to the UK - a Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri). They are normally found in North America. I saw my first Forster's Tern during a beach walk over a decade ago in Myrtle Beach, North Carolina.

Forster's tern in the foreground. Sandwich Terns in the background.

 I saw my first Forster's Tern during a beach walk over a decade ago in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In the US the tern was incredibly accommodating to photography and was diving for fish within a few feet of me.

A close-up shot of a Forster's tern I saw in the United States many years ago.

I think on this visit to Brownsea we were a little too early for the Terns to start showing really well in front of the hides.

I really enjoyed wandering around the island. There is something for everyone to find and enjoy.