The European ground squirrel is an endangered species, mostly because of habitat loss. I find myself lucky to have a place relatively close to home that I can go and photograph them. I've been visiting this colony of ground squirrels for about 4-5 years now, but this was the first time a young one let me photograph it from up close. I was able to spend a few minutes with it and get some photos. In the beginning it was checking me out, to make sure I'm not a threat and then it started feeding.
The photo was taken about an hour before sunset, with the sun at the back of the subject. I was shooting very low to the ground to be at the eye level of this tiny animal and also to try to isolate it from the background.
Shot on Canon R7 with the RF 100-400 f/5.6-8 IS USM, 1/800s, f/8, ISO 1250, @400mm
Nice frame.
Thank you!