Well I thought today was going to be about the birds and the butterflies. Early this morning I saw a yellowhammer and whitethroat out by the fields, and at lunchtime I was delighted to finally photograph a male orange-tip butterfly. It's easy (for once) to understand how this particular species got its name.
Orange-Tip butterfly (male)
All that faded into the background as I was leaving work. I was driving on one of the exit roads when a familiar reddish figure passed me along the grass verge. I pulled in, and grabbed the camera. The angle wasn't great, but the subject was! This is just a tiny selection.
She's obviously comfortable around people. Several were watching her as she trotted along with her prey. Someone mentioned that there's a den nearby, and I have a good idea where 😉
The cubs will be happy with mum!
I took several more shots before she disappeared behind a bridge, but the encounter wasn't over. A couple of minutes later she was back out on the prowl. I followed her up a grassy embankment, and crouched down low to watch. She saw me, and trotted over to say hello!
She is moulting heavily and her coat is patchy in places, but she was wonderfully at ease and has some excellent hunting grounds all around her. Now to keep an eye open for the cubs.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
12 Comments
That will be exciting to see the cubs. Her den must be close if it only took her a couple of minutes to deliver the dinner.
Last shot is just beautiful :yes: She is comfortable around people but rabbits are not comfortable with her around.
Nice 😀
Wow thats a good catch :yes: 😀 Well done!" Iam sure you will catch the cubs soon too!
Wow… such a luck! She's so nice, a successful hunter and a caring mom 🙂 🙂
Great shots! :up:
Wow! The orange-tip is lovely but that fox is absolutely superb, especially the last shot.
Lois, I hope I do get to see the cubs. The entrance to the den is in a very public space (I found it today), though I suspect most people haven't noticed it.
Anna, thanks! Yes, she seems to be doing a good job 😀
Adele, I was really pleased to get the orange-tip, but the 'white-tip' at the end of the day was a complete delight 😀
Mark, I hope to see the cubs, but she's got them in the middle of a main part of the campus about 90 seconds from my office (though I don't have any view of the spot at all, which is probably just as well)
Darko, quite a lot of people have seen her around, so she obviously is happy with her territory.
Typical, I finally get good shots of a fox and you top it with a fox with prey and a great mega sharp head on shot! :p:D
Seriosuly though, awesome photos especially the last one 🙂
Neil, I think it was waiting for me to be ready to give up. It's been hopeless this year in the garden, but I have to admit the few sightings I've had have been worth it. Though yesterday was better than I could have expected. Apparently quite a number of people have seen this one out and about in the middle of the day, so with luck I'll see it again.