Red Squirrel

Rainbowsend

I would love to see a Red Squirrel, have never seen one except in pictures and tv.........any ideas on where to look, I live the Wicklow area but dont mind travelling.

littlebug

It's a long way from you but I saw one in the woods in Cong, Co Mayo a while back. If I actually go looking for them though I can never see any :rolleyes:

Alun

I've seen them in the woods between Lough Dan and the road running partly along it's south west bank leading up from Oldbridge, past the Scout Camp. You can park there and walk along the road, which then turns into a track at the end.

Half-cocked

Used to see them at Glen of the Downs, don't know if the greys have taken over there yet.

Mr. Presentable

I saw one in The Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin.....

Mothman

My last sighting was in Djouce woods (NE side of Djouce) near carpark at top of Long Hill

Rainbowsend

Thanks for all the replies, I guess its down to luck as well, but at least if I
know there have been sightings then there is a chance!

cuddlycavies

Last place I saw one was in the woods at Lough Tay at the roadside. In Bray they are in the scots pines at the Killarney church road intersection and at the top of Killarney road at Hills garage. Plenty around enniskerry. Lord Masseys used to be a great palce for them, thats near Kilakee house, Dublin mountains. It is an elusive creature though and difficult to find. More likely to chance upon one.Wicklow is a good spot though, possibly the best county.

Feargal as Luimneach

Raven Nature reserve in Wexford is a good spot to see Red Squirrel. You might pick up on a few crossbill in the autumn if your lucky also.

MB Lacey

You shouldn't need to travel that far Rainbowsend - the only two Red squirrels I've ever seen were both a few months ago in Wicklow.
One was near the Avoca mines, at a peanut feeder in someones garden!
The other was in the trees in Glendalough above one of the main walks near the info office.

Good luck!

Here's some photos of the one in Glendalough - well one photo of its tail, the other of it's head - put both together = one photo! (think its third photo down)

Darlughda

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

I saw one in The Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin.....

Really? I had my eyes peeled and only grey ones could I see!

I heard St. Anne's park in Raheny has red squirrels. Anyone can confirm this?

Paulyh

Darlughda wrote: »

Really? I had my eyes peeled and only grey ones could I see!

I heard St. Anne's park in Raheny has red squirrels. Anyone can confirm this?

yes, St. Anne's Park has them, i live fairly close by and have seen many there, and have been pretty close to them.
On a walk around the park you would be unlucky not to spot one.

Rainbowsend

Thanks both MBLacey and Paulyh my thanks button doesnt seem to be
working

Just need to get out there and start looking!

Paulyh

no problem, this month should be a good month see them running around. They'll be stocking up supplies for the winter months during september.

Rainbowsend

Well I have seen my first Red Squirrel....squished on the road at Kilruddery. Shame!

bibio

I see Red squirels regulary in Coillte woods in the Roundwood, Annamoe and Rathdrum areas. I see them when out deer stalking. Rather worryingly though, I have seen grey encroach further every year. I saw two reds, in the trees just above Vartry house pub in Roundwood last year, and driving past there about two months ago I saw three greys in the same trees, and have since seen a few dead grey on the road in that area.:mad:

Rinker

I've spotted red squirrels at a number of locations around Vartry reservoir in Roundwood earlier this summer. I find its usually easier to spot them in the early morning sun.
I run on the trails around the reservoir a lot and have never seen a grey squirrel in this area.
BTW I saw a sign in the window of Roundwood post office asking for info on squirrell sightings locally.

Guill

There used to be one in our back garden when i was a kid, came back all summer to wander around, the next year there was no sign of him, only a grey in his place....

John mac

saw one in Ballina last Wednesdy, bringing a camera in the morning

mr socco

I have seen many red squirrels recently in Cavan. Quite a few in only very sparsely wooded areas. Used to be quite a few greys but they've disappeared completely.

Have now seen 4 Pine Martens since last spring so I'm pretty sure they are eradicating the grey squirrel (who spend more time on the ground making them easier to catch). I'm sure the Pine Marten will eventually reach the east of the country. Has anyone seen any Pine Martens in the east??

greenpeter

Have seen a few in the place i work, its in Meath.

recedite

mr socco wrote: »

Have now seen 4 Pine Martens since last spring so I'm pretty sure they are eradicating the grey squirrel (who spend more time on the ground making them easier to catch). I'm sure the Pine Marten will eventually reach the east of the country. Has anyone seen any Pine Martens in the east??

You are correct, and when the martens will recolonise the east is the big question.

Rinker wrote: »

BTW I saw a sign in the window of Roundwood post office asking for info on squirrell sightings locally.

Those posters are in various Post Offices around Wicklow, and if you read it again you will see they are interested in sightings of Red Squirrels and/or Pine Martens.

Guill

So if the Pine martin re-establishes himself does that mean the red squirell will too?

Bookworm85

There's a lot of them in Fota Wildlife Park and in Fota Gardens in Co. Cork. I often see them in the trees beside the railway tracks when on the early morning commute.

Brian CivilEng

Really want to see a red squirrel, I haven't seen once since I was a child. To the earlier poster who mentioned St. Anne's Park in Raheny, I live near there and go walking there on a daily basis, it's overrun with greys I'm afraid. Hasn't been a red there for a few years I'm told.

I went up to the Vartry reservoir in Wicklow but didn't see any, no greys either which was good. None in Glendalough either last time I tried. Guess i'll just have to keep on looking.

westwicklow

Hi. I spotted one red squirrel in Knocknaboley and another in Corragh, both in the forestry last Sunday morning. Both these places are near Hollywood, Co. Wicklow.

cuddlycavies

Saw two today. At opposite ends of Lord Massey estate on the new Dublin Way. Both on the ground at short distance. Great to see that they're still there. Always saw them there 30+ years ago when we hiked there from Tallaght.

HxGH

UCD apparently have a few.

bibio

Have now seen 4 Pine Martens since last spring so I'm pretty sure they are eradicating the grey squirrel (who spend more time on the ground making them easier to catch). I'm sure the Pine Marten will eventually reach the east of the country. Has anyone seen any Pine Martens in the east??

I wasnt aware Martens were any less pletiful in the East, in suitable habitat than anywhere else. I have seen Pine martens regularly in Wicklow, and also in Kilkenny. They are definately in reasonable densities in Wicklow, I see about half a dozen sightings of them in an average year. I see them in various Coillte woods, both mixed broadleaf, and conifir but most sightings in the conifir woods. I see them while deer stalkng so tend to spot them at dawn or last light in the evening. In one spot where I have a high seat, I've seen a marten direclty below the seat, and he hasnt deceted me, really nice to see them going about their business.

cuddlycavies

Pine Marten, the one native mammal I've yet to see even though I'm in Wicklow. PM me a likely spot if you could.

recedite

bibio wrote: »

I see them in various Coillte woods, both mixed broadleaf, and conifir but most sightings in the conifir woods. I see them while deer stalkng so tend to spot them at dawn or last light in the evening. In one spot where I have a high seat, I've seen a marten direclty below the seat, and he hasnt deceted me, really nice to see them going about their business.

Fill out this survey if you have a few minutes. They are looking for people like you. http://www.woodlandmammals.com/Survey.html

doctor evil

Guill wrote: »

So if the Pine martin re-establishes himself does that mean the red squirell will too?

Red Squirrels are smaller than the grey squirrel, they are able to climb out to the much smaller branches that the greys and pine martens can't.

The parapox virus (which greys carry) and competition from greys are much more of a threat to the reds.

emmasheehy

bibio wrote: »

I see Red squirels regulary in Coillte woods in the Roundwood, Annamoe and Rathdrum areas. I see them when out deer stalking. Rather worryingly though, I have seen grey encroach further every year. I saw two reds, in the trees just above Vartry house pub in Roundwood last year, and driving past there about two months ago I saw three greys in the same trees, and have since seen a few dead grey on the road in that area.:mad:

Hi there, if you have a few minutes to spare, please fill out this online survey form http://www.woodlandmammals.com/wicklowSurvey.html I'm trying to get as good an idea as possible of the distribution of BOTH squirrel species and pine marten in certain parts of the country in particular, Wicklow being one of them. You don't need to have seen all three, even a grey or red sighting on its own is useful! Every sighting reported really does make a difference so anyone with any info I'd be hugely grateful if you could spare a few minutes to fill in the form, or else email me directly <mod snip> [Mod note Use PM] The distribution survey is part of a wider project that aims to answer the big pine marten/grey squirrel question!

bibio

Will fill out survey now.

liam365

recedite wrote: »

Fill out this survey if you have a few minutes. They are looking for people like you. http://www.woodlandmammals.com/Survey.html

Appreciate what they are trying to do on that site but I reckon they would get a better return on a shorter slimmed down survey.

Half-cocked

I was in the Raven Nature Reserve in Wexford today and saw 5 red squirrels in under 10 minutes! Here's some pics of them - lighting was pretty bad but I think they came out OK.

Rainbowsend

They are just gorgeous, well done

homerhop

300 acres of woodland at the back of my house with a good mixture of trees. I have spent hours upon hours in there and it has been nearly 10 years since I have seen a red in it. Nothing but greys there now.

cuddlycavies

gREAT PHOTOS

thyme

A bit late joining in here , there is two in the woods here where I live, I see one most days it has made i'ts home in a Scots Pine tree right beside the house, it goes to the forest at the back of the house most days to feed and bring back some bedding for i'ts home. I made it a new home but I dont think i'ts tried it out yet. Plenty of food here with the forest at the back and Hazel and Beech at the front. Got some pics on Tuesday but cant get them to load.

H123

Never had seen one of these before and have just spotted one running up a tree in Mackey Estate Kilkee. Running up the tree next to it was a grey one so maybe not destined to thrive for long. It was great to see they still exist though, I though they had all more or less died away apart from a few pockets.

emmasheehy

Hi there, if you have a few mins to fill this in please do! http://www.woodlandmammals.com/Survey.html

thyme

emmasheehy wrote: »

Hi there, if you have a few mins to fill this in please do! http://www.woodlandmammals.com/Survey.html

Is this survey similar to the one that was conducted in 2007 by the National Council for Forest Research and Development, just curious.

who the fug

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

I saw one in The Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin.....

I remember them as a kid in the Botanic Gardens (One of Dublin great Gems), but I though theyl got wiped out

magicbastarder

so did i - i've not seen any in the botanic gardens in the last five years. plenty of greys though; i believe between 40 and 50.

who the fug

magicbastarder wrote: »

so did i - i've not seen any in the botanic gardens in the last five years. plenty of greys though; i believe between 40 and 50.

Am going back about 27 years, but you always found them down the back the bit which boarded on to the farm with the cattle

Great place to study was the Gardens.

Is it still free?

magicbastarder

it is; and they've added a walled vegetable and fruit garden in the last few years too.

pawrick

Last time I saw a Red was back home in Athlone a good few years ago- I was going for a walk by a river and he ran out of some cover along the wall of a bridge going over it. Might still be some in the area as it's mostly been untouched since then.

Lots of Grey in the Botanical Gardens - was there about 4 years ago showing an ex around Dublin and one of them got a bit a bit too close and jumped on to her. Scared the life out of her and we ended up staying in the green house for a bit until it chased someone else. btw we had no food with us and weren't doing anything apart from walking and talking - I'd say he thought we had food.

mecksimay

Glendalough, near the Upper Lake, but early in the morning as they are very shy animals and if there are too many people around there is less of a chance of seeing them.

whyulittle

There is a piece in the local paper today about several sightings of red squirrels in Westmeath, despite them supposedly being extinct in the county.

Same article in sister paper last week.

http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/mullingar/articles/2011/01/26/4002807-red-squirrels-spotted-after-extinction/

I saw a squirrel a few years ago in woods in Portlaoise. Anyone know if there are red/greys or both in that part of the country?

thyme

Thanks for the link whyulittle, yeah I have seen red squirrels here since 2005 (Westmeath), and the report that was published in 2007 said they were extinct in Westmeath, The only squirrel thats disappeared is the gray.