December is generally a relatively quiet month in the garden. Fox sightings go down. Whether that's because they are not around as much, or whether it's because they tend to arrive late at night I'm not sure. Certainly though, I tend to spend less time outside waiting for them in cold weather. But the nicked ear vixen is around, and the wood mouse has also put in an appearance.
The greedy peanut thief appeared in the early hours of Friday morning.
It didn't stay around for too long, but with a bit of care I'm sure it will become more tolerant of the camera. I've filled up the peanut feeder as an incentive for return visits. There are a couple more shots from Friday in The Wood Mouse Files album.
It was a similar hour yesterday (i.e. early hours of Saturday) when the nicked-ear vixen re-appeared, looking as gloriously healthy as ever. I'm not sure who was more surprised when she pushed her way through the hedge. We both froze, and for a moment I thought she would disappear again. She didn't. She was in one of her better (or bolder) moods and spent some time exploring the edge of the pond.
All of the above much needed update means that I don't really have room for anything from today. And today accounted for about 200 photos. If you like photographs of seagulls and blue skies you might want to take a look at the small selection from Brighton Beach over on my Flickr site. Here's one sample image of a black-headed gull in winter plumage as a taster…
Camera note: the fox photos, and the second wood mouse shot, were all taken with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro lens. The first shot of the mouse was caught with the EF70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens (which I also used for the Brighton Beach shots on Flickr).
SittingFox
7 Dec 2008I didn't see the peanut feeder bar when I first looked at the top picture, and thought for a moment that the mouse was suspended in mid-air :eyes: Great pictures, as always. :hat: for a sunny weekend! :yes:
gdare
7 Dec 2008Mouse didn`t seem to be much disturbed by your photographing 😀
Vulpes vulpes
7 Dec 2008I think the wood mouse is posing for you in the first shot – either that is thinking "Drat, I have been caught red-pawed!!":p
Nicked-ear is looking in fine fettle and appears to have got quite used to your presence in "her" garden!:happy:
Flying Red Fox Blog
7 Dec 2008Lovelly photos. 😀 I havent seen the Fox i saw at work yet, maybe he thinks i have the camera at the ready! 😆
Was a nice morning with frost everywhere when i was on the trsain to Gatwick via Hove. This weekend has been one of the sunniest for a long line of preceeding weekends that i can remember! 😛 Lets hope it stays that way, i love sunny winter mornings.
cakkleberrylane
7 Dec 2008Great shots, all of them! The mouse is just so sweet!
Words
7 Dec 2008LOL, at the levitating mouse :alien: And yes, an excellent weekend weather-wise. I seem to have photographed nothing but black-headed gulls though :confused:
Words
7 Dec 2008Vulpes, yes it does look somewhat guilty doesn't it. Nicked-ear changes like the wind. Sometimes fine, other times she's off in a flash.
Words
7 Dec 2008Lois thanks. It's always fun to see the mouse. They're so intense!
Words
7 Dec 2008Mark, I very rarely see foxes in the morning, though I live in hope. At the moment it's generally after midnight that the garden livens up. You had a good day for Gatwick. Could do with some more nice bright days.
Words
7 Dec 2008Darko, they're usually quite happy as long as I don't make any noise. If I step on a twig, they're gone.
Mickeyjoe-Irl
17 Dec 2008And they have such good balance. 😉
Words
17 Dec 2008Mick, they've been known to fall off… and then scamper away all embarrassed like!
Mickeyjoe-Irl
18 Dec 2008😆 No way.