A couple of garden mammals

We've had a welcome return of relatively dry weather. It's still unseasonably mild, and the forecast is set fair for the weekend.

I didn't get much of an opportunity to get outside during the day, but the skies were wonderfully clear this evening and presented a perfect opportunity for photographing the moon which is just beginning to wane.

The moonlight also brought out the wood mice. They've not been too evident lately, but this evening two of them appeared, separately and on different feeders. They were enjoying the dry weather, and helping themselves royally to the snacks on offer.

The early evening mouse

The late evening mouse

So two mice in one night. But that's not the reason for the blog title. When I said a couple of garden mammals, I was referring to species not individuals. And the second mammal is of course a fox. Over the past week or so, we've heard plenty of screaming, and caught brief glimpses of the foxes in the garden, or across the street. On Tuesday night there were two in the garden. One paused momentarily to stare at me peering out through the window before diving under the fence. The other (which had been well hidden up until then) followed at high speed from the shrubs on the south side of the garden. No photos though.

I had more luck tonight. Now this may be because the dry weather kept me outside for longer, what with the moon and the mice (plus the newts), but whatever the reason the 'nicked-ear' vixen paid what, for her, was an extensive visit.

Arrival at the far end of the garden

4 minutes later, by the pond

As well as the small nick in her left ear, she's got a second distinguishing mark. If you look closely at her right rear leg you can see a white spot (possibly the result of a wound). Her four minute stay in the garden is probably the longest she's tolerated me. I kept firmly to one spot in the garden, and didn't attempt to approach her, wanting to see how she would respond. She steered a very wide circle around me to get to the pond, but she did stay in the garden. Just after that second photo she jumped down and disappeared out through to the front.

Camera note: Moon photographed with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens + Kenko 1.4x Pro 300 DG teleconverter; all other shots taken with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.

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This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. Vulpes vulpes

    24 Jan 2008

    Fabulous moon shot! It looks like nicked-ear vixen is becoming more trusting. :happy:

  2. Words

    25 Jan 2008

    Vulpes, yes the vixen is getting to be quite a bold one. I doubt she'll ever relax like the old dog fox who was pretty comfortable from day one, but it's progress. Generally the vixens round here are always more cautious.

  3. Flying Red Fox Blog

    25 Jan 2008

    Lovelly Moon shot, it was bright last night, i caught a pic of ot i think, still practising with that.:) The mice look so sweet at helping themselves to the birdfeeder lol:P

    Nice Vixen she looks like shes getting used to havind pictures taken and shes very distinguishable, i wonder if she will have cubs near the garden? i hope so!

  4. SittingFox

    25 Jan 2008

    She's a beautiful fox! 🙂 Curiously all my foxes have returned in the last 48 hours, which I take to mean we're at the end of the breeding season here.

    You've captured the moon beautifully and the mice are great as always!

  5. Words

    26 Jan 2008

    Mark, don't the clear skies make a difference! The animals seemed to enjoy it as well 😀

  6. Words

    26 Jan 2008

    Adele, yes she's a pretty vixen. It's still fairly quiet on the fox front round here. No sightings tonight, and no screaming either.

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