Saturday 6 December 2008

The London Squirrel Community.

City life, with all it's hustle and bustle, tends to take it's toll on a person.  That's why it's important that there are places around a city where you can go to "chill".  In London there are many parks throughout the city and they're usually only a short walk away from any place you're likely to be.  I like to go to a park to chill.  I also like to go to the park to be entertained by the resident squirrels, and indulge in a spot of squirrel photography.  

I'd never seen a squirrel before moving to London, and definitely never imagined that I'd get a chance to see so many.  All of the parks I've been to so far have been well endowed with squirrels, and it really makes me happy watching them scurry about, gathering food, and socialising. They're quite friendly wee chaps and seem happy to sit there and chew at a nut or a seed while I take photos of them at a fairly close proximity.  

Sometimes it can be a bit frustrating trying to get a good shot however.  The squirrels move fairly quickly and often you think you got a good snap and then when you look at it, you find you have a photo of a small brown blur.  Sometimes you're just about to get that perfect shot and then an unruly child will spot the squirrel you're photographing and run towards it with flailing arms, yelling and laughing, resulting in another photo of a small brown blur.

Please take time to enjoy the following images featuring squirrels of Queen's Park in Kilburn.

Fossicking about in the grass for something or other.



Munching on some variety of nutritious treat, I'll bet.


Here's one thinking about climbing up a tree.


And here's one thinking about climbing down a tree.


Look! This one's perched on a fence.


Not only is it winter (when there is much less squirrel-food around), 
but also the "credit crunch" has left many squirrels tightening
 their belts.  Consequently, this squirrel is eating a dead leaf.
Possibly the squirrel equivalent of eating dry Weet-Bix.
Times are tough!



A tree to you or me - A house to a squirrel.



Queen's Park, Kilburn - or Upper Squirrelton, 
depending on who's map you're referring to.




Wednesday 3 December 2008

Weasel War Dance

I had no-idea/too-many-ideas what to call my blog so I chose to narrow down the possibilities (with an "obstruction" yo) by saying that the title had to include the word 'Weasel' in it.*

My three ideas: Weasel Words, A Word to the Weasel, and finally, Weasel War Dance.

I chose: Weasel War Dance because it conjures up the most appropriate image.

Weasel War Dance (wikipedia): The weasel war dance is a colloquial term for a behavior of excited ferrets.

Weasel War Dance (me): The weasel war dance is a colloquial term for the behavior of excited Anthony when he gets home from work in the evening and gets to hang out with (or annoy) his girlfriend/flatmates while drinking red wine.



*That's not to say that all the posts on this blog will be about weasels or that this will some sort of weasel forum - quite the contrary. This may even be the only post related to weasel(s) I ever write.