I'm going to start with tonight so that the surprise in the woods is kept to the end. But I will say that it's nothing to do with foxes.
This evening was a series of visits, starting with the dog fox. He caught me by surprise (I was at the rear of the garden looking for insect to photograph), but as ever he was happy to wander around, dig up previous caches, and pose for pictures.
Grooming
I was outside again a little later. It seemed relatively quiet until I sneezed. That brought out the nicked-ear vixen. She seems to live in one of the neighbouring gardens, so although we see less of her than we do of the dog fox this is probably her home territory. She's heavily into her summer moult, and the darker under-fur is very visible at the moment.
While I was occupied with her, the bold vixen sneaked up behind me. Foxes have this knack of appearing and disappearing without a sound, and although I should be used to it there's always something quite special about being out with two foxes just a few feet away. I was happy, but the nicked ear vixen less so. She didn't go into the extreme posturing that she offers the dog fox, but she did beat a fairly rapid retreat over the rear fence.
That was this evening. Earlier today I spent an hour by the dew pond. No dragonflies today but a good selection of beetles and bugs, including this scorpion fly.
It was when I was heading back to work that I ran into the big surprise. There have been several reports of sightings over the past week, but I was yet to see the unusual newcomer. I caught a fleeting glimpse as I was crossing the car park. He was in heavy shade on the edge of some woodland, but unmistakable for all that.
Yes, we seem to have acquired a stray peacock. He's surprisingly difficult to see. He emerges as far as the edge of the dense undergrowth. If he retreats back into the wood he disappears from sight almost instantly, despite his size and vivid colour. Most of the shots I fired off were unusable, but I did manage another this evening when I was leaving work.
A very surprising end to the week.
Camera note: both pictures of the dog fox were taken with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro lens (the second had the 1.4x teleconverter added). The vixens were photographed with the EF70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens. The scorpion fly was taken with the Sigma and TC combination (and external flash), and is a stack of three shots. Finally, the peacock was badly photographed with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
Ukwildlife
24 May 2008I dunno, firdt you bet me to posting a macro of a scorpionfly (mine from wednesday will be up 2moro and then you top my singing finch escapee with a peacock! :p
Nice photos 🙂
cakkleberrylane
24 May 2008WOW!!! You have had an amazing day! The peacock is incredibly beautiful. I understand that they can be quite loud too.
It must be wonderful to have foxes all around you like that. The one I saw in the woods was completely silent as well. I was amazed that I didn't even hear a footstep in the dead leaves.
gdare
24 May 2008Peacocks are wery territorial, so he will probably stay there. I have heard for a story of a peacock living in a park in one town, attacking parked cars at the borders of his territory. They have discovered that he has seen his own reflexion in a car and thought it was another male peacock so he attacked 😆
SittingFox
24 May 2008Okay, that was the last thing that I was expecting for your surprise! :eyes: I think peacocks will take over the world eventually…I've been very wary of them ever since one tried to steal my blueberry muffin, at which point I realised that arguing with such a huge bird perhaps wasn't a smart move!
Great shot of the scorpion fly and nice sequence of the foxes 🙂
Words
24 May 2008Neil, sorry about that 😉 But I think your singing finch beats a peacock (not least for actually noticing the finch – I could hardly miss the peacock once it came into view) and you photos are way better. Plus I see you managed a cuckoo! Nice :up:
Words
24 May 2008Lois, the peacock hasn't made too much noise (but yes they can be pretty loud if they want to be).
Words
24 May 2008Adele, I'd been hoping to see it. A couple of colleagues had told me they'd seen it, but it's still quite a shock to see something of that size wandering around. I'll set up for some better shots next week if it's still around.
Words
24 May 2008Darko, the peacock seems to have taken up residence there. It's a good secluded spot so it and the undergrowth is very dense so it can hide out easily. I'll remember not to park my car too close though 😉
FrogBoots
24 May 2008Wonderful shots! :up:
My car is peacock blue, and I have a spray of peacock tail feathers in the rear window…so I'll be more careful where I park from now on! :eyes:
Vulpes vulpes
24 May 2008Wow, what an unusual sighting!!
Words
24 May 2008Vulpes, slightly odd I have to admit :alien:
Words
24 May 2008FB, that's roughly the colour of my car as well, though I maintain a carefully constructed coating of micro-particles over it to help it blend in with the backkground.
Words
26 May 2008Thanks Mark. The peacock was lovely to see.
Flying Red Fox Blog
26 May 2008Lovelly Peacock 😀 The dog fox and vixen probably wondered what that noise was when you sneezed. 😛