Pesky neighbors

This ground squirrel is warming up in the rising sun. He looks so peaceful. ©Teresa Shumaker. 

I was on a bird survey the other day when I passed by this peaceful looking squirrel sunning itself on a fence. I paused to snap a few photos when a blackbird landed on the fence nearby.
The blackbird stared down the squirrel for a while, and the squirrel seemed to pay him no heed, except for a leisurely sideways glance. Then, the blackbird jumped into flight and attacked the squirrel's back.

The Brewer's blackbird in mid-back-attack. Look at the squirrel's face, he is bracing for the attack but seems rather nonchalant about the whole thing. ©Teresa Shumaker.

The blackbird repeatedly tried to move the squirrel, and the squirrel just sat there, as if this was all part of his daily routine. His facial expression when the blackbird was attacking appeared to be mild annoyance, at best.

The contrast in expressions between these two is priceless. ©Teresa Shumaker. 

Just compare the difference in body language. The blackbird reeks of agitation and the squirrel looks bored.

"Oh yea, that's the spot." ©Teresa Shumaker. 

Even the blackbird's hop looks menacing and agitated. ©Teresa Shumaker.

Eventually the blackbird won, but he had to resort to tail pulling and/or plucking.

Tail pulling finally got the squirrel's attention. ©Teresa Shumaker.