Tag Archives: predator

A Tale of two Foxes

Regular readers of my blog will know that my suburban garden is as much a wildlife refuge as I can make it. Deep hedges, areas of long grass and weeds for cover and insects (well that’s what I tell the wife anyway), 2 ponds and birdfeeds spread around. I also put out food for my crepuscular and noctural visitors in the form of peanuts and odd scraps. I make no apology for this, it gives the animals a small boost to start the night and allows me to watch and share in their adventures and, if lucky, a few photographs to remember those moments.

Despite the ridiculous press that urban / suburban foxes sometimes receive (I’m not saying incidents don’t happen but put it in perspective against dog attacks and the mess some of the owners leave) I have always found the local foxes to be very wary indeed. In fact my visiting badgers were much happier to ignore me and carry on than the foxes were.

Last year that somewhat changed when, on rising for an early photo session start, I saw a trio of bouncy fox cubs rolling around the garden at 4.30 am. My original blog is HERE. At the end of the article you can see the proud mum and maybe notice that white spot just visible on her front left leg. From those 3 cubs I know that one certainly didn’t survive. This year I’ve found that one of the females definitely survived.

The mum is still a regular visitor and I grabbed a snap back on the 21st March. Again see the white spot on her leg.

Female fox that visits me most nights

Female fox that visits me most nights

This vixen visits every night and it was clear to see she had young somewhere as her teats were clearly visible –

Fox side portrait showing teats

Fox side portrait showing teats

I guess I’m a sucker for a chance at more photos of cubs and made sure she had something to take them every evening. Soon she was joined by one of last year’s females and again, it was VERY obvious that there are young to feed very close by –

Young red Fox vixen showing teats

Young Red Fox vixen showing teats

It’s been a pleasure watching these two in the evenings. They don’t often show up at the same time and I’m wondering if they were raising the same family. I’m trying to find out if the daughter could possibly come into milk to support a litter that her mother gave birth to. They both visit, collect food (sometimes stopping to eat themselves) and head off in the same direction each time. I have an inkling where they may be denned but as these are all mature gardens it’s difficult to know for sure. One thing that is clear, my immediate neighbour who has no time or care at all for wildlife has completely stripped his garden of all cover and the majority of the mature trees. Where I’m guessing the cubs played last year is now a no go area with no cover at all. I guess some people just want a tidy but lifeless garden. Shame.

The two girls have been busy back and forth each eveing and I’ve been fortunate to be able to try and get photos that normally would be out of the question. They are not bothered by the cameras at all and are happy for me to be rolling around on my conservatory floor while I attempt to get portraits or shots of them eating, drinking, scratching and..well…anything of interest….

Red Fox yawning

Red Fox yawning

 

Red Fox portrait closeup

Red Fox portrait closeup

The young vixen (one year old) even comes and has a look to see where her food is. I often find her sitting on the back doorstep or curled up around 10 feet away. I should point out that i do NOT and WILL NOT hand feed even though she probably could be encouraged. I want to give her an extra chance but I don’t want her to get into trouble by approaching other humans, especially those that believe foxes are somehow a threat to them. When I touch the door handle she will back off to a sensible distance….

Red Fox vixen watching me through the door

Red Fox vixen watching me through the door

So despite seeing last year’s cubs on April 28th, as I write this I have yet to see hide nor hair of this years young. I have a sneaky suspicion they are still around as food is still being taken in the right direction but both vixens are not showing much in the way of milk so I’m guessing they are weaned (at around 6 weeks old). However, not all has been happy in the fox camp. Both vixens suddenly developed limps as did a dog fox that I occasionally see. Very weird. My suspicious mind was wondering if some of my less wildlife friendly neighbours has caused this but I honestly can’t tell. I’m now thinking that maybe they have had a falling out with the badgers as the older vixen disappeared for a week to 10 days and when she re-appeared she had clearly been in a serious fight. She has lost her good looks with a serious injury above her left eye which is affecting her jaw also. She is lucky to have not lost the eye. I’m not going to post any images of this as it looks quite distressing. The good news is that she is otherwise fit and healthy, still has vision in both eyes and is capable of feeding herself and her offspring.

At the same time, the younger vixen (who we refer to as “daughter”) is not recovering. She has a really sore front paw which, when I took some photographs of it, I can see is infected. I’ll be off to the vets this week to see If I can get anything for her as it’s now been weeks with this issue.

For now I’ll leave you with a couple of images of them at their best. Fingers crossed that the cubs will be coming to our little refuge sometime soon.

Red Fox vixen sniffing the spring evening air

Red Fox vixen sniffing the spring evening air

Something tasty this way comes

Something tasty this way comes

Portrait of the older vixen showing her good looks

Portrait of the older vixen showing her good looks

 

Hope you enjoyed the images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Fox, Mammals, Nikon D7200, Photography, Wildlife Photography Also tagged , , , , , , , , , |

Welcome weather, unwelcome visitor

It feels like I’ve been waiting weeks for some decent weather to get out with the camera and finally last week there was a tiny break that promised a little sunshine after the recent snow. I just had to take it and along with my wife, headed off to Dungeness.

We arrived a little after sunrise and headed into the main reserve before even the Tree Sparrows were up and about. The light was good though, the cloudless sky a lovely blue. Dunnocks were in good voice and the rabbits scampered away on the frosty ground. As we headed towards the viewpoint there were at least two Marsh Harriers in the air, one of which headed right towards us before banking away, offering an incredible view.

 

Majestic Marsh Harrier

Majestic Marsh Harrier

Such a spectacular sight and a great start to the day. From the viewing point we also spotted (but no decent images of) Bitterns and Bearded Tits. I find this spot to be very relaxing and always spend a little time here on a visit. Maria was checking out the adjacent pool and reeds when she said “I’ve just seen either a stoat or a mink running along the path”. I quickly set the camera pointing along the track and sure enough, out of the bright sunshine casually strolls a Mink. Now normally I shoot 100% in manual mode but today I was trying out Aperture mode and allowing the camera to do some of the work. Bad idea in this instance – dark animal running with bright sun behind it and then standing in front of a pile of snow. The result was that I totally blew all the highlights. Massive shame but we all make mistakes. I did however manage to process a couple of images to show you how the animal looks (just ignore the botched highlights!)

Running Mink

Running Mink

Mink side portrait

Mink side portrait

Standing Mink

Standing Mink

Lovely as it was to see an animal such as this, it’s a little worrying considering they are an extremely efficient predator and have caused massive issues since being released from mink farms.

The mink was not the only predator looking for a meal on this cold morning so little surprise the rabbits were edgy.

 

A Fox hunts in the winter sun

A Fox hunts in the winter sun

Frosty morning, alert rabbit

Frosty morning, alert rabbit

After walking back via the main entrance we headed over to the other side of the road. From the ARC Hanson hide we spotted one of the Great White Egrets along with Smew and Goldeneye and had views of a Firecrest outside the hide with Goldcrest and Chiff Chaffs in the scrub close by. We decided to head to the screen as we had been told there were a pair of Great Crested Grebes displaying outside. Sure enough they were there and we waited a while before they looked like they were starting some courtship behaviour with mirroring movements and offers of weed. However, just as this started, a couple of birdwatchers turned up, and made enough noise to scare them off. Perhaps you may be happy to view stuff at 300 yards across the lake but at least TRY to have some consideration for others. so frustrating to watch the birds heading off at speed. Note to self…try and find places where i won’t be disturbed!

We decided to head out as lots more people were arriving, popping into Rye Harbour on the way home. Really I wanted to see how the Black Headed Gulls were getting on as I really look forward to when they are in full breeding with hundreds of argumentative birds wheeling, diving, fighting and making lots of noise. They were making a start, the squabble for pitches has started and will increase greatly in the next few weeks. Not too much of interest photo wise with the gulls but a Little Grebe successfully fishing close in front of the hide was handy –

 

 

Little Grebe catches a fish

Little Grebe catches a fish

Finally with lots of Oystercatchers roosting over high water, one or two did come close enough to attempt a flight shot. Not normally a strong point of mine but practice makes perfect. Not quite perfect but am improving at least!

 

Oyster Catcher flypast

Oyster Catcher flypast

Posted in Birds, Dungeness, Mammals, Photography, Wildlife Photography Also tagged , , , , |