BIRDS got a shock when squirrels claimed their food from a feeder in the garden of an Oxfordshire-based wildlife snapper.

Former Oxford Mail photographer George Reszeter said birds had to wait their turn while three squirrels fought it out to get their teeth into the mixture of nuts and seed.

Mr Reszeter, who lives in Wootton, near Abingdon, took the striking pictures last week. He said: “A Great Tit flew in to have a go at the bird feeder and was stunned to find a squirrel inside.

“The bird feeder is supposed to be squirrel-proof, but somehow one of the squirrels managed to squeeze between the bars.

“Once most of the food was gone the squirrels headed off.

“The squirrel who managed to get into the bird feeder had a real struggle to get out again.”