Lockdown has definitely made me look for entertainment primarily in my local area and it helped me realise yet again that happiness can come from small, simple things. One of the parks I visited most often at the beginning of the quarantine was Ruskin Park. A small park in southern London, not much different from your regular city park. A big, grassy open space for picnics, a cute little pond, trees, flowers and sport facilities. But the natural inhabitants of the park are one of a kind.
London parks are full of wildlife. There’s plenty of geese and swans in the ponds, there are the iconic green parrots high up in the trees, and there are also squirrels. Grey squirrels, to be specific, though most of them look a bit red in good light. When I first discovered that Ruskin Park was full of squirrels, I decided to next time bring some nuts and try to make friends.
The first attempt required a bit of time and patience. I spotted a target – a cute, little, fluffy squirrel – and tried to lure it closer to me with big, tasty monkey nuts. It approached me with limited trust, nervously shaking its tail whilst weighing the options. I wish I knew what goes on in those cute little heads. Is it a choice between ignoring the tasty treat and risking their lives to get it from the scary giant? I had to throw the nuts a few times, closer and closer, until I finally managed to hand feed one of these adorable little creatures. Success!
From that point, it got much easier. A month later, I would go through a few bags of monkey nuts a day, getting swarmed by dozens of squirrels every time I went to the park to feed them. I even learnt to recognise some of the most distinctive individuals and gave them names. The one below is one of my favourites, Barry. Barry the Barrel, the perfectly round, fearless good boy. He’s always hungry, always ready to eat, and will keep coming back to beg for more and more nuts. We had a small photoshoot with Barry one day, he was the most adorable model I’ve ever seen. So photogenic, great genes!
The beginnings were slow, but after a few weeks, I think I can say I made friends with these cute furry creatures. In the middle of our feeding sessions, they would climb up my legs impatiently expecting more treats. I’m very much an animal person, and each interaction with an animal brings me incredible joy and happiness. The photos below were like a dream come true!
One day, I decided to conduct a little experiment on my new, adorable friends. I wanted to find the best, the most superior nut to rule them all. And who can answer this question better than the nut experts themselves? So I bought a selection of nuts – walnuts, monkey nuts, cashews, hazelnuts and almonds – and lined them up on my leg (at that points the squirrels were comfortable helping themselves from a buffet on my hands or legs) and observed which nuts they went for. The results… I should have seen this happening, to be honest. The winning nut was… drumroll… the biggest or the closest. They did seem to favour cashews though, when all nuts were of a similar size. Which made me incredibly happy, as cashews also happen to be my favourites. Although I have to say, for the entertainment factor, I love watching the squirrels eat monkey nuts the most, just because they’re the only ones in extra shells. It’s so adorable how they peel the external shell and also the brown skin off the peanuts, rotating the nuts in their little paws. I’ve gone through dozens of big bags of monkey nuts at this point and I still haven’t got enough of that sight!
I just wanted to quickly mention some of the other inhabitants of Ruskin Park, a family of Canada Geese. These three babies changed from fluffy, yellow chicks to just a slightly smaller version of their parents in about 6 weeks!
Is there any wildlife in your local parks? If so, what creatures can you find there?
Nature is always beautiful on its own. That squirrel was so friendly to pose in front of the camera. Such amazing pictures clicked. ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
We named him Barry, he showed up every time we went to the park with a bag of nuts π Always patient and friendly and always ready for food!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s so cool.π
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is amazing! I’ve enever had a squirrel climb up my legs! I’m glad you weren’t bitten too. π₯°
LikeLiked by 1 person
They would never! They’re the friendliest little creatures you can possibly imagine π Or maybe we bought that privilege with all the nuts haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds nutty to me! β€οΈ
LikeLiked by 1 person
How adorable, I love squirrels too. You certainly tames them and made their day with all these nuts. They bury monkey nuts in my plant pots in the garden, I find them when I re pot a plant. I love it when they cross my garden. We have a big tree in the road they love to be on and feast there.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s so cute! But also, what a waste of tasty nuts. I’ve only seen them bury the nuts we gave them once or twice, and we’ve gone through a few dozen of big bags of monkey nuts during lockdown, going to that park every day. I find it so adorable when they just sit and peel the nut, rotating it in their little paws.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right, and like you , it is something you never get tired of watching!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is what I needed to see Today….the squirrel is so adorable… β₯οΈπ₯°
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are the most adorable little creatures ^^
LikeLike
Cool the squirrels trusted you to come for food π
Animals are fun to watch
LikeLiked by 1 person
Took a while to gain that trust, but soon enough I felt like a Disney princess π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to love to feed the squirrels when I was a kid! We have a lot of wild rabbits this year, and those are probably my favorite to watch!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds amazing! Do they trust you and get close to you or do you only watch them from a distance?
LikeLike
thatβs so cute! i definitely made their day with all these nuts π° Thank you for sharing this lovely postβ€οΈ
Follow @everythingtips for tips and recommendations if interested! It would mean a lot to me!π₯Ίπ€
LikeLike