Those of you who read last night's entry will recall that I spent some time waiting for a badger to show up. The camera set-up I used was the 24-105 lens set to manual focus, with a wide aperture and short zoom. Shutter speed was slowed down to about 0.3" and ISO was up at 1600. This is never going to get the best shots, but I want to avoid flash if possible so as not to alarm the new visitor. The whole set-up was planted safely on a tripod and I was using a remote device to trigger the shutter.
After about an hour of standing out in intermittent drizzle (I put a hat on the camera to keep it dry), I was finally rewarded with a visit!!!
But it wasn't a badger. The old dog fox had decided to come on a late night prowl around the garden. Not what I'd intended (but not entirely a surprise either). At least I now have some idea that the technique will work well enough to document a visit should the badger show.
The dog fox was back again this evening, displaying some unusual behaviour. He did the same last night, so clearly this something of a habit. He's taken to attacking the shrubby honeysuckle (a fairly dense shrub) which borders parts of the garden. And I do mean attack.
I've not seen him behave like this before, but I recall that Adele (Sitting Fox) reported similar behaviour by another fox a while ago. I'm certain it was the hedge he was after, by the way, and not something lurking in or under it. He's been known to climb it when hunting, but that wasn't the aim today.
Meanwhile a quick update on bird life. Despite the overcast weather, I had two excellent sightings at lunchtime today. First was a green woodpecker ( :yes: ). I got several shots and was able to watch as it flew between the trees. This is a fairly hefty crop, but the line of sight was good, and I was far enough away (and under cover of other trees) to avoid scaring it.
The other sighting was a wren. Now I've seen these before (though not as often as I'd like). The wren is one of our smallest birds, and surprisingly one of the most numerous we have. The trouble with spotting them though is that they tend to flit into heavy shade, shrubs and dense trees. I saw this one in a small area of woodland. Most of the time it managed to hide behind a twig, but eventually I was able to get close enough with a clear view. The shot was taken at 1/250s, F5.6, ISO 800 at a full 400mm zoom. I used a monopod to help avoid camera shake.
Camera note: All fox photos taken with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens. The birds were captured with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS.
anonymous
21 Apr 2008Ivywall writes:
Perhaps the twigs scratch his itches? Or something fairly smelly will hide his scent? I'm at a loss. Perhaps he's practising his fighting techniques or has he just got 'nowty' in his old age? LOL
That wren shot is a cracker – they're not at all easy. We (OH and I) haven't managed a green woodpecker shot yet unfortunately!
Thankyou!
Patx
SittingFox
21 Apr 2008Fascinating – I couldn't find much "official" info on this vegetation-savaging tendency when my Old Dogfox started showing it. Do you know if any other foxes were around? Not in the garden, but in the general vicinity. Perhaps even Roofy…? Every time I've seen it to date, or been told about it, there has been another fox somewhere relatively close, if not always within eyesight.
And the woodpecker and wren are wonderful of course! I know what you mean about wrens usually hiding! I've never got a picture of one that is half as good as that. Great stuff!
cakkleberrylane
21 Apr 2008Leave it to a fox!! 😆 Interesting behaviour! I would love to know why he does that.
Great photos of the birds!
Vulpes vulpes
22 Apr 2008Perhaps you should ask kids why they attack hedges :ninja: – might explain the ODF's antics! :p Super bird shots!! Wrens sure are hard to photograph.
(PS I was wondering why there was a very strong fox scent in my back garden today, as they visit behind the rear wall rather than over it. I then realised I had planted a Fritillaria imperiallis bulb last autumn – The Crown Imperial Fritillary. Phew does it smell like fox scent!! :ko:)
Flying Red Fox Blog
22 Apr 2008Mybe hes attacking the scent marks of another Fox perhaps? Nice pics by the way, I like that Wren pic looks really sharp and focused well done. 😀
Words
22 Apr 2008Adele, they never cease to surprise. We had the old dog fox and one of the younger ones by the pond last night (seen from the window). Possibly the nicked-ear vixen who returned later. We also heard loud squeals, suggestings cubs nearby. As for the bush behaviour, I wonder whether the presence of the badger has anything to do with it. Or just a bad itch. And no doubt there were other foxes nearby, in one of the other gardens.
The bird shots were the result of laziness. I decided to stay in one place and pretend to be a tree for a while. It seemed to work.
Words
22 Apr 2008Pat, scent marking is certainly a possibility. He was diving in and through the shrub, with a slightly 'crazed dog' look when he emerged, obviously very satisfied with what ever it was he'd been up to. The wren is easily the best I've managed. They are such elusive little things.
SittingFox
22 Apr 2008When I saw my Old Dogfox hedge-attack, he actively grabbed it with his teeth and yanked the vegetation. It was part of his ritual when the poor old Interloper was around, along with rolling about and arching his back.
Interesting point about the badger. I guess he might be a bit intimidated.
Words
22 Apr 2008Lois, mostly the foxes are quite predictable, but only to the point when they throw in a surprise. 😉
Words
22 Apr 2008Mark, yes scent marking could be the purpose. He was marking more conventionally the other day and seems to be trying to dominate the garden at the moment. I managed a number of shots of the wren, but that was the best. I had a couple of others from the same spot before it flew away.
Words
22 Apr 2008Vulpes, I'd not come across that plant, but just googled some good links. The smell can't be that bad though if it's like 'fox'. 😉
Words
22 Apr 2008This was more a battering ram technique. Dive in and hurl yourself about. Quite intense and sustained though.
Vulpes vulpes
23 Apr 2008@Words: give me 'Fox' scent any day! 😀
Words
23 Apr 2008I'm with you there 😀