A very welcome guest

My goodness, that is an unusual sighting, especially as you have grey ones too. What a pity you didn't have your camera to hand. What about your mobile phone? I've always got that in my pocket if all else fails. Not perfect photos but better than nothing.

Oh how lucky for you to see the red squirrel, there are a few more getting about now. Shame you didn't have your camera, a picture would have been amazing. I really love red squirrels. :O) Lucky you :O)

Gosh what a treat! Maybe it will be back......

Barbara and Waddy - it certainly was a treat. I was quite excited!

It did the rounds of all the feeders (there are five) and there are teeth marks on all of them. It had got the lid off one, and put its head so far in I honestly wondered if it would get stuck! I found the feeder on the ground a couple of days ago, so I guess that's why. Such a gorgeous colour it was, with a bright white underside.

Waddy - I am afraid I have a bog-standard, bottom-of-the-range phone. No photos! My "children" despair of me!

I thought that the reds were extinct in Lancashire. I am pleased to hear otherwise.

Me too Bulbaholic!

We still have a colony at Formby Point which, despite its Liverpool postcode, is part of the County Palatine!

How wonderful! I thought the "reds" were only to be found in Scotland and on Brownsea Island (Poole Harbour)!

There is a red squirrel reserve there. It is only a few miles away and I used to visit it regularly when my sons and daughter were children. My daughter managed to feed one from her hand, much to her delight.

Mel, that is very exciting! The last time I visited the Formby squirrels was about 13 years ago on a school trip with my youngest. Maybe it's time for another visit.

Are they increasing ? I thought they were very rare. I'm pleased you saw one :o)

I don't know if they are increasing, Hywel, but I was certainly very pleased to see it in my garden. I thought I spotted one a few years ago, but I had plenty of time to watch this one - I think it has probably visited a few times, judging by the evidence. The surprising thing is that I took a photo of a grey squirrel in exactly the same place, just a couple of years ago. This was definitely a true red.

You lucky thing, my brother lives in Southport and tells me they have reds there too:-)

I am in Southport, so - yes. It has been back because, although I haven't seen it, I have certainly found the evidence - a broken feeder and seed all over the ground. I emailed Red Alert, the local squirrel group (the people who record sitings, not an actual group of squirrels!) and had a call back. I think the squirrel must come from the school site over the back wall because they have mature woods there. All quite exciting!

I've never seen one, only on the tele:-)

You must visit your brother and get him to take you to Formby Point!

Oh dear - I've just noticed that I completely missed Tuesdaybear's comment. Apologies,Tdb! I took my Infant class there (many years ago, obviously!) We had a marvellous time, rounded off with a walk on the beach and a paddle. It's a lovely place. I haven't been there for years, either.

I'll have to have a word with Goy, Mel, as it didn't notify me of this interesting blog!
BEHAVE goy!

That does seem to happen occasionally, Mouldy (I've been blaming the Rioja, but perhaps not...)

It's happening to me again today, Mel.
O2/Goy (?) re-boot yourselves up the backside & get this sorted, please! ;-)

I can't really comment - I only have a bog-standard pay- as-you-go mobile, so I only access the net via a PC. It's very annoying when things don't work as they should, though. My worst problem is two or three unsolicited calls a day from so-called finance companies telling me I've had an accident, or am owed thousands of pounds (I wish!)

I try to convert them to my bogus religion, when I get those calls. ;-)
Sadly, they never stay on long enough to find the answer.
In fact, I haven't had a call from any of them for months. :-(

You're the lucky one, then. I use my mobile hardly at all, but for the last few weeks I've been getting daily calls - none of which I've answered because no-one I know ever calls me on it. We've been getting silent calls from mechanised call centres on the landline and calls from "finance" companies, PPI, and "accident lines". Thank goodness we have caller display, so we don't answer most of them. I always type unknown numbers into Google and they are all reported scammers. Absolute pests. And we are registered with the Telephone Preference Service. (Our own bank is about the only company that seems to respect this!)

I wasn't aware that TPS extended to mobiles.
Well, well.
I had it on my old landline & only ever got two cold calls, both of whom I threatened with legal action, should they call again or sell on my phone number to anyone else.

No, it doesn't. Our problem is mainly with the landline because I don't usually hear the mobile - it's mostly well insulated within my bag. Apparently there are some very good free apps that you can get for mobiles (the posh kind!) - you type the number you want blocked, and hey presto! Pity there wasn't something similar for landlines.

I'm sure there is...for landlines, I mean.
An add on service, like call-holding, f'rinstance.

I think there is a service where you can tell the phone company which numbers you want blocked. You have to pay, though.

Actually, the last few days have been quiet (famous last words). I think these places try for a few days then move on. Hope so, anyway.

Yeah, but they then sell on the numbers to other companies.
One company starts the ball rolling, then makes revenue to cover the cost of their calls by selling the details on.
A simple but irritating practice!

Simple it may be ; naive - no way!

Flog them, I say, with telephone cord. Lol.

No inappropriate remarks this time.

Scaredy-cat! Lol.

Once bitten ...