Mr Red

Aviemore, Scotland

Reds are the indigenous species in Britain but the introduction of the grey, which carries diseases fatal to the red, have marginalized the red to the Isle of Wight and to Scotland, which has pine forests in which the grey cannot thrive.

Until last week I had only seen a red squirrel twice in 38 years. Last week I saw entire teams of them raiding bird tables. This one was operating with two partners, another group I saw in the Cairngorms had seven active members.

10th January 2010