Good Vibes Only: Drafting A Squirrel

Today I drafted a squirrel. Pedalling along, the canal beside me steaming tendrils into the frozen air, my lead out squirrel sat on the frosted fence …

By stwhannah

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Good Vibes Only: Drafting A Squirrel

Not fantasy’s, but more wildlife experiences similar to yours ………………….

A Buzzard flying/gliding just above and just ahead of us on a woodland trail, the overhanging foliage stopping it from escaping into the open sky, we followed it for a a couple of hundred meters before it drifted off above the trees.

A Barn Owl that flew out of the hedgerow just above the Fleet (Dorset) then kept just ahead of us landing back in the hedgerow until we caught up then flying off again, it must of been nearly half a mile before it decided enough was enough and flew off across the fields.

Hares, on several occasions, running ahead of us on tracks then stopping until we caught up before running off again, they seemed to enjoy the game of tag.

 

It is quite common for buzzards and owls to do that, I’ve seen it loads of times. They have both worked out that if they keep pace with the bike/car it will eventually scare a rodent in the verge and the movement will give it away and they can pounce. Works very well.

I’ve only seen buzzards and owls doing it though, not seen any others.

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The hares do want you to chase them. It’s not a game, they nest on the ground so if they see a predator they will make themselves known and then run away from where their young are, and make sure that the predator follows them. As long as they are fast enough this works well.

I had a squirrel companion running along a fence a couple of weeks ago too. I slowed slightly do it could stay ahead and after a few dozen yards it leapt up into a low branch without breaking stride and was gone.

What colour jersey for Queen of the Commute?

Kingfisher shiny blue. Fast, nippy, always seems to get where it’s going…

I’ve a video from one of my son’s following a Wombat down a trail. He refers to it as ‘My G’ and asks about passing square pooopage….funniest thing ever.

STW editor terrifies squirrel ?

we was just pushing up at woburn when a squirrel about 10ft above us fell off a branch.

 

First time I got buzzed by an owl was back in the days of dim halogen lights. Appeared over my head from behind and the ghostly white shape disappeared off into the inky black. Quite beautiful, very distracting.

squirrels are good fun and fast, badgers are surprisingly quick too.

Seagull, sorry Gull, dropped a road-kill rabbit, guts hanging out, from about 40ft up and landed between us on road bikes. Scared the proverbial out of us.

Squirrels are indecisive bastards when crossing roads, a right pain 🙂

I regularly have a Kingfisher fly ahead of me along the canal, on my commute. Landing on narrow boats and branches ahead before flying off again as I get close. I’ve also seen a pair dancing around each other in the air one blue sky spring morning.

As long as they are fast enough this works well.

Which given they are one of the fastest animals on the planet is a pretty good plan.