Gallery Three

Caught red-handed

Red Squirrels are extremely photogenic and it is a real shame that they are now confined to living in very isolated areas of the UK in relatively small numbers. This combined with their elusive and shy nature makes it a rare privilege to have the opportunity to watch them in their natural habitat, particularly for those living in the South of England, with Brownsea Island being the only location to see them.
We spent a whole day scouring the woodland on the island trying initially to find, and then to photograph, their population of Red Squirrels. Eventually, having spent some time watching them running around us from a distance, I began to work out where the best spot was for me to set up and wait. With only about half an hour to go before the last boat left to return to Poole, I settled into what I thought was a good spot, and with luck on my side, had a fantastic opportunity to get some pictures of the one shown here with a huge pine cone in its mouth.
A day well spent.