Vixen alert!

Things are getting interesting with the foxes.

Last night we had the old male show up again (we seem to be back on his nightly beat), but I'd been wondering where the young male had got to (last sighted briefly on the 11th). I needn't have worried. I looked out this morning at around 10.00 and he was nosing around at the rear of the garden.

A perfect morning, but for one thing. I was so intent on the fox that I barely noticed when a large bird flew past and settled on the fence about 5 feet away from me. I thought it was probably a collared dove, but when I looked it turned out to be a sparrowhawk taking a quick breather. By the time I'd realized what I was looking at (and remembered that I had a camera in my hand), it was gone. Wonderful moment though.

I eventually left the fox to his own devices, but kept an eye on what was going on out there. I'm glad I did. Just before midday, there was some movement at the back of the garden. A fox (well what else?), but a different fox! The thing with a 'different' fox is that they tend to be skittish, and wary of movement. So I didn't attempt to open the door. I just took a few shots on a long zoom through the window. Well, if it isn't a vixen; and from what I could see the cubs can only be a couple of weeks or so away. She does look pretty ragged, though it's hard to tell whether it's the dreaded mange or just a hard life. There was a bare patch near her neck, but her body wasn't in too bad condition. Grubby though. We think she may be the older vixen from last year (i.e. not 'Kinky'). I managed about half a dozen shots before she noticed me. That was enough to send her back to somewhere more secure.

She did appear again about an hour later (I was outside taking more pictures of the young male fox), but vanished as soon as she noticed me.

And so to the photos…

Relaxing in the sunshine

Watching flies

The mysterious vixen

Jumping foxes!