I was happily minding my own business in Van Cortland Park today, watching fluffy little squirrels like this one playing gleefully amongst the fallen leaves:
Exhibit A: cute, fluffy squirrel. Aww.
See how cute and fluffy he is? Then all of a sudden, a massive hawk shot over my shoulder and picked the tiniest, fluffiest squirrel of them all right off the tree next to me, smacked him to the ground like a rag doll and ate him, three feet from where I stood. I was gutted. So was the teeny, tiny, fluffy squirrel. Here is the Van Cortland Squirrel Murderer, caught red-handed beaked:
Wanted for murder of cute. fluffy squirrel. See Exhibit A.
He then turned his hungry gaze upon me, at which point I beat a hasty retreat.
Is that the time? I really must be going.
Rest in peace, teeny, tiny, fluffy squirrel.
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About ailsapm
Hi there! I’m Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney. I’ve lived in many places, and travelled to many more. I had a lot of fun getting there and being there, wherever there happened to be at the time. I climbed a castle wall in Czesky Krumlov, abseiled down cliffs to go caving in the west of Ireland, slept on the beach in Paros, got chased by a swarm of bees in Vourvourou (ok that wasn’t fun, but it was exciting), learned flower arranging in Tokyo, found myself in the middle of a riot in Seoul, learned to snowboard in Salzburg, got lost in a labyrinth in Budapest and had my ice cream stolen by a gull in Cornwall.
And I’m just getting started.
If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read so far, I’d love you to follow my travelogue - wheresmybackpack.com - and remember, anyone who tries to tell you it’s a small world hasn’t tried to see it all.
Where's my backpack? 
Sad! But great pics, and writing about the food chain : )
I know, life’s rough, isn’t it? At least it was all over quickly for the little guy. x
HAHAHAHAH
Nooooo, how can you laugh in capital letters at the demise of a cute, fluffy squirrel? Glad you liked my post. 😉
The dovies on the fence have seen that gaze, know the feeling and send condolences. (great pictures)
Thanks, philosophermouseofthehedge, I guess hawks have to eat too, right? 🙂
Great photos AIlsa! I can just picture you in full camo ala David Attenborough. If I’m ever eaten alive by a hawk, I hope you’re there with your camera
Haha, never fear, should that day ever come, I shall be there, skulking in the hedgerow, fully camouflaged, with my camera at the ready! 😉
That’s a powerful sight. I’ve watched (and photographed) the red-tailed hawks of Riverside Park (mostly in Morningside Heights) tear apart squirrels, rats & pigeons. But I have yet to see one actually catch & kill one! Wow!
It was powerful indeed. I haven’t visited Riverside Park yet, but it’s on my list now! Thanks for stopping by. x
This is why squirrels are all such nervous wrecks. Sometimes I hate nature. Great photographs, though. I’m glad you weren’t dessert.
I’m glad too, Charles, although if I had been, I’d hope to have resembled a light, fluffy concoction involving meringue and whipped cream. 🙂