The jockeying for garden domination continues. The nightly trail cam footage shows the foxes tending to visit in pairs, while the badgers are mainly lone foragers. Some nights the foxes dominate the footage; on others its the badgers. There's no real pattern but certainly enough evidence of activity to keep me interested as the night time temperatures begin to drop.
The first photo is Shy Boy, taken in the early hours of Thursday morning. Without doubt he's the friendliest of the foxes. Whether he'll be able to stake a claim of garden ownership over the winter months is another matter; but for now he's probably the most frequent of the visiting foxes.
Shy Boy may find he has competition from the more established inhabitants, and specifically Shutterbug. He's also a regular, but tends to pass through the garden, or (as tonight) uses it as a place of rest and relaxation. These days he tends to ignore my presence entirely. He has the established territorial rights, but may already have a wider range.
As for the badgers, the older badger who I called 'Lumpy' hasn't been seen for about a week now and I do fear the worst. The young badgers are still visiting, and one of them at least is now reasonably comfortable with the camera. These shots were taken this evening, shortly after Shutterbug's visit.
Camera note: Shy Boy photographed with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens. All the rest taken with the Canon 7D and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM.
derWandersmann
14 Sep 2012Nice shots of the foxes, Words, and the badgers look good, too. That second badger picture makes me think of the Brollachan. Actually, so does the first one, with those glowing eyes.
ICU109
14 Sep 2012I like the grin on the first badger photo. the fox is so sweet. I have a little fox terrier/shihTzu mix now, black and white 3 months old. They call them Jack Russells now, but I had a fox terrier/Spitz mix as a baby, same coloring, girls both named same: Panda. Guess what, been putting cat food for my cat outside and a nice possum was caught by the caretaker up on the porch couple nights ago, he was so shocked he didn't snap a pic. Possum looked at him and went back down the steps slowly, seemed old. I would have died right there on the spot if I had opened the door. and I've sat out on that porch many a time in the middle of the quiet nights. I've never seen a badger, possum OR fox in real life. just pictures. DID see a coyote once came to the door at my other house with windows (called lights) each side of the door, so saw it through the light. by the time I got up and to the door it was gone like it never had been there but had peed on the porch, a wild scent, very strong. My dogs went wild. That bout 10 years ago I surmise. Love these close ups of these magnificent animals but that badger looks a bit mean, like he'd take a bite out your hide sooner than look at you. cheers boys, sorry not been talkative lately, gave y'all a break as I was agrievin for my BabyDoll who passed July4 and couldn't seem to communicate much since. This is a rare cameo, enjoy lol. kat
SittingFox
14 Sep 2012Shutterbug does look very relaxed. I like the contrast between the badger's back and the berries 🙂
gdare
14 Sep 2012On that first photo, badger looks like laughing 😀
Words
15 Sep 2012Adele, Shutterbug is just so relaxed. I hadn't noticed him come into the garden until the light from the house cast his shadow as he settled down.
Words
15 Sep 2012Kathy, I've been enjoying a good year with the animals in the garden. The badger is young and seems very gentle in reality, though they are tough creatures and I do take care not to startle them.
Words
15 Sep 2012dW, you had me searching for Brollachan, but I can see what you're getting at. :yikes:
Words
15 Sep 2012Darko, it's just eating but it does look like a grin. I really like having them visit though for personality you can't beat the foxes.
ICU109
16 Sep 2012great site. love the wildlife I never get to see!
Words
18 Sep 2012Kathy, thanks!