You can find a good bit of info on these squirrels via Google search and
Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy web site, including some of the stories
about how they "arrived" hereabouts. A few are in our yard just about every
day here in Mills River.
Mark
On Tue, Jan 3, 2017 at 7:39 PM, Marilyn Westphal <mjwestph@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
The white squirrels aren't albinos. It's just a different color phase of
the gray squirrel. They are pretty common in both Transylvania and
Henderson Counties now. Maybe it's a dominant gene. In some places up
north there is a black phase that is quite common. I've heard that the
white phase squirrels were introduced in Transylvania County many years
ago. They are certainly spreading.
Marilyn
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 3, 2017, at 7:19 PM, alan lenk <adlenk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
A morning visit to Owen Park revealed some interesting wildlife. Here are
the highlights:
White Squirrel- when I arrived I walked along the trail at the west end
of the first lake hoping to see the Virginia Rail. I spotted this white
squirrel. I had seen them at Brevard College Campus but this was my first
in Swannanoa. I am not sure if it was a true albino, the eyes did not
appear pink but the photo was taken with flash that can alter eye color. I
talked with a lady who lived near by and she said she sees white squirrels
at her feeder occasionally.
Virginia Rail- there was a small crowd of birders on the trail that
bisects the two lakes. Local birders Jim Poling, Tom Bush and others were
peering into the dense vegetation at the end of this trail on the right,
near the corner of the lake. The Rail had been spotted but there were no
good views. I hung out there for over an hour with a birder named Joe
waiting for the Rail to come into the open but it never really did. I got
a partial shot of the Rail's upper body.
Bald Eagle- while waiting on the Rail to make its appearance a Bald Eagle
flew west over the lakes (photo #3). In about 30 minutes it return flying
east, this time carrying a clump of grass in its talons (photo #4). This
made me wonder if it might be building a nest, does anyone know when they
prepare a nest? Unfortunately it dropped the grass clump and watched it
fall toward the water (photo #5). Soon the eagle was getting close with
good light that provided a nice shot. (photo #5).
Great Blue Heron- during the "excitement" this heron paid little
attention and continued preening.
It was a good morning.
Alan Lenk
Asheville
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<BalkEagelWithGrassOwenPk.jpg>
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