Three curious squirrels peer out of their tree nest for the very first time

Squeezing their furry faces through a hole in a tree, a trio of curious baby squirrels leave their nest for the first time to explore their surroundings.

Peering carefully out of the opening, one by one, the squirrels scout the area before scrambling back inside their den.

The cute peekaboo display was caught on camera by photographer Rick Tomalty in his garden in Orford in Quebec, Canada.

Rick, 65, a retired math and photography teacher, says: "I spotted some action in the tree and gently tied back a small shrub to get a clearer look.

"The three squirrels were stuffed into a hole in the tree trunk and I watched in delight as they began to explore the tree. They looked so cute squashed together and appeared to be siblings from the same litter."

Rick spent two days in his garden watching the family of squirrels playing in the tree.

Photographer Rick Tomalty said: 'I had to wait for hours to get the right photographs. I noticed two of the baby squirrels resting on top of one another as they peered out of the hole. I couldn't believe it when a third squirrel arrived and squeezed in next to the other two.'

Rick set up a tripod around seven metres from the nest and placed a camouflage tarpaulin over his head and the camera, so as not to disturb the playful rodents.

Rick spent two days in his garden watching the family of squirrels playing in the tree. He said: 'I was so fortunate to spot the squirrels when I did because the whole family left the nest within a week. I felt really lucky to have witnessed something like this. I am an avid outdoor photographer and these moments are what we hope for.'