Spot the fox

By Paul Cecil | Published January 29, 2009

Believe it or not, there is a fox in this photo.

fox hiding

You have to look very closely at the rear of the pergola.

fox hiding

Ok, I'll make it even easier…

fox hiding

It obviously has the patience of a saint and is thoroughly capable of out-watching me. I knew a fox was around. I'd left an egg out there, and then hidden away in a corner for the best part of an hour… and nothing. I went inside to warm up… and sure enough the egg vanished within minutes. So I tried again with a few small scraps. That was when I managed to get this photograph. I wasn't even aware the fox was lurking. It was just a test shot to check that I had an approximate focus (I was manually focusing to avoid needing to use a torch to get auto focus at a distance). It was only when I was looking through the few test frames later on that I noticed the slightest hint of eye shine in the background. Even zoomed it takes some imagination to identify the fox; but it's there.

Watching and waiting.
Nature Blog Network
Camera note: the photo was taken with the EF70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens set for manual focus at 70mm.

This entry was posted in Foxes and tagged .

20 Comments

  1. chthoniid January 29, 2009 at 12:01 am #

    Hmm, if you didn't explain it I'd never have seen it 😀

  2. Vulpes vulpes January 29, 2009 at 1:01 am #

    Bless your eyesight! 😀

  3. CedarFox January 29, 2009 at 3:01 am #

    Nice spotting! Until I scrolled down, I thought I was going have to put my nose on the screen to find it. :eyes:

  4. Flying Red Fox Blog January 29, 2009 at 5:01 am #

    Yay you outFOXED it lol 😆

  5. Ukwildlife January 29, 2009 at 9:01 am #

    Ah the joys of wildlife photography…lol

  6. gdare January 29, 2009 at 10:01 am #

    It was :ninja: fox 😀

  7. ForestFloor January 29, 2009 at 2:01 pm #

    CedarFox 😆 Me too AND I had to take my glasses off and squint but finally saw an ear and then the face. Words, I think both you and the fox have the patience of a saint!!

  8. Words January 29, 2009 at 6:01 pm #

    Eric, lol! :eyes:

  9. SittingFox January 29, 2009 at 6:01 pm #

    Oh dear, I think all our foxes are turning into miniature cougars :cat:

  10. Words January 29, 2009 at 6:01 pm #

    Brendan, even having explained I'm still struggling!

  11. Words January 29, 2009 at 6:01 pm #

    Vulpes, it's the flash that gave it away.

  12. Words January 29, 2009 at 7:01 pm #

    Christine, lol! I'll try to get a better photo, but I'm not promising.

  13. Words January 29, 2009 at 7:01 pm #

    Neil, indeed. It's peaceful enough waiting for them… cold but peaceful. I just wish they'd show themselves.

  14. Words January 29, 2009 at 7:01 pm #

    Mark, it sure did. This isn't going to be one of the easier foxes to photograph, that's for sure.

  15. Words January 29, 2009 at 7:01 pm #

    Adele, definitely not a good time of year. I may have to invest in a hide if this goes on for too long :whistle:

  16. Words January 29, 2009 at 7:01 pm #

    Darko, it's a useful trick… invisibility…

  17. Mickeyjoe-Irl January 31, 2009 at 2:01 am #

    And we thought the vixen was shy 😀

  18. Words January 31, 2009 at 9:01 am #

    Indeed, Mick… this one has perfected the art of invisibility.

  19. cakkleberrylane February 1, 2009 at 10:02 pm #

    Thanks for showing it. I never would have seen it!

  20. Words February 1, 2009 at 11:02 pm #

    I wouldn't either but for knowing that a fox was somewhere in the vicinity 😉