How unpheasant! Game bird attacks red squirrel in battle over nuts 

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How unpheasant! Game bird attacks red squirrel in battle over nuts

  • Pair got into a tussle as the feisty squirrel tried to defend its food from the bird 
  • Louise Phillips, 40, captured the struggle and said the squirrel attacked first 
  • She had left hazelnuts out for the squirrels but the pheasant tried to steal them  

By Isabella Nikolic For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A dramatic fight between a red squirrel and a pheasant was caught on camera as the pair faced off over some nuts.   

The pair got into a tussle as the feisty squirrel tried to defend its food from the bird.

Louise Phillips, 40, who pictured the struggle said the squirrel attacked first, but the pheasant fought back, clawing at the critter.

The GP had left hazelnuts out for the squirrels and she said the hungry pheasant attacked while trying to get at some bird seeds that had been left out previously.

Louise Phillips, 40, from Dunfermline, Fife, put out hazelnuts for the squirrels but the hungry pheasant attacked while trying to get some old bird seeds.

She said the squirrel attacked first, but the pheasant fought back, clawing at the critter

She said the squirrel attacked first, but the pheasant fought back, clawing at the critter

Shocked Ms Phillips, from Dunfermline, Fife, said the squirrel quickly backed off after realising it had bitten off more than it could chew.

The photographer was at a hide in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, where she snapped the striking images.

Louise said: ‘I rented the hide for the day to try and see the red squirrels.

‘The pheasant just sauntered in to get in on the food.

‘There were some hazelnuts but the pheasant was eating some bird seed that had also been left out.

The photographer was at a hide in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, where she snapped the striking images

The photographer was at a hide in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, where she snapped the striking images

She said: 'It was the squirrel that attacked first and the pheasant jumped and clawed back in reaction'

She said: ‘It was the squirrel that attacked first and the pheasant jumped and clawed back in reaction’

‘The squirrel wasn’t happy with the pheasant in his face.

‘It was the squirrel that attacked first and the pheasant jumped and clawed back in reaction.

‘It lasted just seconds then the squirrel backed off.

‘I think it realised it had bit off more than it could chew.

‘I didn’t quite believe what I saw – I was quite surprised.’