There are thousands of wildlife photographers in the world, and they all have their own unique ideas for how to capture the beautiful world around us. One Dutch photographer recently embarked on a six-year project with a very interesting goal: to chronicle the lives of red squirrels.
Photographer Geert Weggen has now become known as an “expert in red squirrels.” His project started out with foxes, then moved on to birds, and finally settled on a group of red squirrels. For more than half a decade, he followed the red squirrels with what he termed “squirrel workshops.”
Weggen set up his workshops and awaited the arrival of the red squirrels. They took place over five days a few times a year.
Now, Weggen has published his amazing photo series and the internet is going wild for them. You might not think the lives of a group of red squirrels are particularly interesting, but the Dutch photographer has managed to capture many amazing moments.
From playing with dandelions to adorable posed photos of squirrels getting their “mail” for the day, the cute little creatures offer up some of the sweetest sights in nature photography. Weggen’s six-year project definitely paid off.
1. Just a sniff of a flower on a windy day.
Weggen perfectly captured this tiny squirrel burying his face in a dandelion. Just then, the wind picked up, flinging the seeds into the air. The squirrel’s ear fur is flying in the breeze, too. He seems to be enjoying the windy day — and his special flower with its soft, fluffy seeds.
We really can’t say what these two squirrel friends are doing with their tiny weapons, or what store sells squirrel-sized bows and arrows. Maybe they’re just enjoying a bit of target practice on a sunny day. But better watch out — those weapons are more dangerous in their little paws than you might think.
3. This squirrel must be Mary Poppins in animal form.
He looks like he’s flying away in the breeze, with his tiny little umbrella. But he doesn’t seem alarmed. He’s much more interested in the little seed he’s got clutched in his paws. Just think of it as a snack for the flight. It’s much better than a bag of pretzels!
4. Onward, loyal steed!
Here’s a message for all birds: look both ways before flying into the path of a squirrel with a miniature carriage. These two squirrels look like they might be having a bit of a spat about who is in whose way. Follow the rules of the road for safety. Hey, I’m walkin’ here!
Just because he spends all day outside in a tree eating nuts doesn’t mean he doesn’t have important things to do. Unfortunately, squirrel cell phones don’t run cheap, so this guy has to use the local payphone. It’s so retro … and it’s absolutely adorable, so we’re happy about it.
We’re not sure where exactly to find the local squirrel fitness center. This guy prefers to do his workouts at home. That’s an impressive amount of weight for such a tiny little animal. We’ll keep an eye out for him at all the local animal weightlifting competitions, working for a teeny trophy.
The squirrels are pretty capable when it comes to nuts, but sometimes, it helps to have a bigger hand at the helm. Photographer Weggen himself decided to step in to help this squirrel with his walnut, armed with a hammer. He looks pretty excited to have such easy access to a favorite treat.
There are flying squirrels, but we don’t think this little guy is what that refers to. There’s no doubt his mode of transportation has plenty of flair. Most woodland creatures don’t have their own personal dragon to get them around. This squirrel is sure to get some jealous looks from all the others.
This squirrel is armed with the most adorable little paintbrush we’ve ever seen. He’s taking the chance to capture some of the beautiful fall foliage around him. Bob Ross would be proud. But we do have to ask … where would a squirrel hang a painting? Is there a tiny art gallery somewhere nearby?
10. It might not be a flower, but it’s just as sweet.
Plenty of Weggen’s photography is full of beautiful flowers and foliage, but this little squirrel is enjoying something completely different. He seems happy enough with his mushroom, even though there are prettier plants all around him. But we won’t judge — he’s just taking a whiff of what’s probably a tasty snack for him.
11. A little bird is helping this squirrel friend.
Maybe it’s the bird that’s taught the squirrel to shoot straight. They both look pretty confident — maybe they’re trying out for a woodland circus. Cirque du Soleil, here they come! We really want to know what other acts we would find there. We’re sure they would be unbearably adorable.
Ears up, paws poised, eyes steady: he’s ready to hit the stage for his adoring fans. Who knows what squirrels sing about? Probably nuts, trees, and sleeping through the winter. Not half bad, considering what some pop songs are about. At any rate, he looks like he’s ready to drop the hottest new single of the woods.
At the top of these beautiful sunflowers, this little guy stops to strike a pose, looking right into the camera. Who wouldn’t, with such gorgeous surroundings? He’s got a lovely garden to climb around in. It must be squirrelly heaven — as long as there are plenty of nuts nearby.
14. This romantic little guy is enjoying flowers even in the snow.
It might be the dead of winter, but when this squirrel happened on some roses, he still took the time to stop and smell them. With spring still far away, he gets a little glimpse of it in the beautiful flowers. He almost looks as though he might want to dance with the white roses.
15. It’s nice to take shelter under a comfortable mushroom.
It must be nice and sunny at the moment, but if bad weather strikes, this squirrel has the perfect place to take shelter. He looks cozy under his big mushroom. With a seed clutched in his paws, he’s all snuggled up in the perfect place to stay safe in a rainstorm.
16. There’s nothing like scaling a flower on a sunny day.
This little guy looks so happy as he climbs his big blue flowers. His ears are perked up, and he’s stretching one paw up to the sky. There’s no doubt he’s enjoying his time clambering around a beautiful garden, with his whiskers held high. He makes being a squirrel look like a wonderful time.
17. This little guy is enjoying a bath out in the sunshine.
We don’t know whether this squirrel took a dip in a birdbath, maybe, or a pond — or maybe he just got caught in a rogue rainstorm. Either way, he doesn’t look too bothered. On the contrary, he seems to be enjoying himself as he flips his head and tail around, drying his fur.
There’s no doubt that there are lots of fun things about being a red squirrel … at least when it comes to this photographer’s workshops. There are plenty of flowers to climb. For daring little guys, there is even a vine that doubles as a tightrope. Just don’t look down.
Two itty bitty little grocery carts full of berries, and these guys are just goofing around. They better concentrate if they want to get those groceries home. Maybe they’re filling up their nest for the winter when they’ll be tucked up warm with plenty of food … as long as the provisions make it there.
20. And if you go up to four nuts, you’ll get a speeding ticket.
It’s very important to follow all the rules of the road, even if your car is the size of a cell phone. This guy knows what he’s doing … probably. Just keep those paws at ten and two, buddy, and everything should be all right. Be sure to look out for other woodland creatures.
21. There’s nothing like munching on a snowy flower.
We have no idea if it’s pleasant to crunch away at a frozen dandelion, but this red squirrel seems to be enjoying it. He’s staring into the distance as he eats his snack. It’s probably pretty different from his usual nuts and berries, but that doesn’t mean it’s not yummy.
Shakespeare’s version didn’t take place in a tree full of beautiful winter berries — and his heroes weren’t furry little animals. But who knows? Maybe this version is even better. We can’t wait for the movie adaptation to come out next year. We hear they have some very big names in the credits.
This red squirrel is taking over from Geert Weggen. He’s got his own insights to offer, so he needs to be the eye behind the camera for a little while. Of course, his paws may be too small for the buttons, so he might need some help on that.
24. Nothing to see here but two friends on a teeter-totter.
Who said a couple of red squirrels can’t have some fun at the playground? These two little friends are enjoying themselves going up and down. Hopefully, neither of them pulls the old “dead weight” move that we all did in elementary school. Although in their case, that would only be about four ounces.
Being a red squirrel is thirsty work. Maybe … we assume. This little friend is enjoying taking a nice cool drink out of his own cup. The cup is so big, he could probably jump in to swim if he wanted. But for now, he’s content to slurp away.
26. Just taking a nibble of some delicious berries.
There’s nothing like a cluster of sweet, delicious red berries. This little guy is getting ready to take a big bite of a yummy snack. He seems pretty excited to have such a huge bounty at his very own paws. Just like they say, he’s bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in anticipation.
27. Taking a whiff of the mushrooms in the forest.
Here’s yet another little guy who prefers a delicious mushroom over a fragrant flower. He’s got it held in both paws, almost hugging it to his tiny chest. It must be a favorite snack for him. Too bad he can’t carry more than one back to his nest.
This squirrel has a bit of a superhero complex. Just like he’s scaling a building, he’s climbed up both of these sunflowers and is now doing an impressive display of squirrelly gymnastics. Of course, he’s stopped halfway to have a delicious snack. It doesn’t matter to him that he’s got to hold his pose while he eats.
29. Striking a squirrelly pose under beautiful blossoms.
This squirrel seems to know exactly how adorable he is, posing under the lovely flowers. He’s got one tiny eye trained straight on the camera, his tail held upright and bushy, his paws out in front of him. With flowers on every side, he’s a perfectly photogenic little animal and he knows it.
This little guy looks very serious as he stuffs his tiny envelope into the mailbox. Maybe he’s got a house number etched into the side of a tree so that the mailman knows where to stop. Or maybe it’s mail squirrel? At any rate, we hope his letter gets where it needs to go.
This red squirrel is enjoying his flower so much that he has his entire face buried in the petals. It must have a beautiful aroma. There’s no doubt that this little animal knows how to appreciate all the beauty around him. Of course, that means almost wearing a flower as a hat.
It’s hard to hold onto the string of your balloon when you only have paws and short little arms. This little guy climbed up on a bench to try to catch his balloon as it soars into the sky. He’d better keep a tight grip on it next time.
This tiny little squirrel has a new yellow hat, and he looks pretty happy about it. He’s also got a little seed in his paws, so it’s a good day for him. Between his wardrobe and his snack, he’s having a good time. It’s a great time to be a squirrel.
There’s never been a squirrel who enjoyed taking a whiff of a flower as much as this one. He’s got his eyes closed and his ears perked up as he hugs his flower close. And if you look carefully, you’ll notice he’s even got a tiny little smile on his squirrelly face.
Taking shelter under a great big mushroom with a delicious seed in both paws? That sounds like a perfect day in squirrel land. This little guy is even flashing a smile straight at the camera. It’s no wonder he’s so happy — he’s got his mouth full of a delicious snack.
Man Follows Squirrels Every Day For 6 Years - Photos Show Just How Great Of A Life They Live
Cedric Jackson
01.02.19
There are thousands of wildlife photographers in the world, and they all have their own unique ideas for how to capture the beautiful world around us. One Dutch photographer recently embarked on a six-year project with a very interesting goal: to chronicle the lives of red squirrels.
Photographer Geert Weggen has now become known as an “expert in red squirrels.” His project started out with foxes, then moved on to birds, and finally settled on a group of red squirrels. For more than half a decade, he followed the red squirrels with what he termed “squirrel workshops.”
Weggen set up his workshops and awaited the arrival of the red squirrels. They took place over five days a few times a year.
Now, Weggen has published his amazing photo series and the internet is going wild for them. You might not think the lives of a group of red squirrels are particularly interesting, but the Dutch photographer has managed to capture many amazing moments.
From playing with dandelions to adorable posed photos of squirrels getting their “mail” for the day, the cute little creatures offer up some of the sweetest sights in nature photography. Weggen’s six-year project definitely paid off.
