Red squirrels have been spotted in Cove and Ardpeaton this year, a new survey has revealed.
And the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey also showed new sightings above Cardross, as well as at Clynder and Garelochhead where the creatures were seen two years ago.
With data going back ten years, this is the first time reds have been recorded in that area.
This is the second time that the national survey has been held, and the number of people taking part trebled from 2019, logging over 3,300 sightings of both greys and reds.
The event run by Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, a partnership project led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, called on the Scottish public to report sightings of both red and grey squirrels seen in back gardens across the country and while exploring outdoors.
Both species seen throughout the week were reported to scottishsquirrels.org.uk for inclusion in a national database that influences conservation action.
Project manager Dr Mel Tonkin said: “We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to report a squirrel sighting during the survey.
“It’s been inspiring to see more people than ever taking time to enjoy nature and on the look-out for squirrels.”
“Reporting a squirrel sighting is a small act that helps to protect one of Scotland’s most charismatic yet threatened species.
“Records from the week help us to create a detailed snapshot of the situation on the ground and allow us to make informed conservation decisions based on distribution and population changes over time.”
For the last 12 years the group has implemented control measures along the Highland Line from the Gareloch to Montrose to contain the incursion of the non-native grey squirrel into red squirrel strongholds to the north.
Dr Tonkin added “All of our fieldwork was unfortunately suspended this year when the lockdown hit in March, and caused fears of a ‘bounce-back’ of grey squirrels in a year which has coincidentally been a boom year for the species.
“The boom follows an exceptional beech seed crop last autumn, leading to earlier and more productive breeding this spring, and lockdown prevented the early intervention that would normally have contained this increased production.
“The widespread reporting of red squirrels in this survey, run in September after work resumed, gives us comfort that the red squirrel has not become a casualty of the coronavirus restrictions.”
I’m delighted to hear of red sqirrels in the local area. Let me chip in a story. I was walking down Upper Colquhoun St, a little below the Hill House and the woods in Helensburgh a year or so ago and saw a sqirrel run across the road about 50 yards in front of me. I couldn’t be certain but believe it was a red. I often see greys and this one appeared smaller with a reddish hue and with a different way of running.