It's always the same spot

The Tip Vixen was there tonight, as most nights



There is something magnetic about this spot for all creatures vulpine. For generations, they've chosen to sleep lurk fight and cache there. It's not a learned behaviour; wandering vagrant foxes have come into the garden and immediately settled in the spot. And I'm left watching in bemusement, wondering what it is that attracts them so.

I think it's a perfect triangle. To the left, a thick hedge runs down the border of garden, providing both protection from unwelcome eyes and a weather-break. Just behind the spot, there is a tall conifer, which helps conceal the foxes from the top of the garden. But the view is clear from there to the house, so they can look out across the lawn, safe but observant. Close by, also, is a gap in the wire fence that runs within the hedgerow, so it's got its escape hatch too

As I say, the Tip Vixen was there tonight



But that, of course, reminded me of all the other foxes who have used that spot over the years.

February 2006
Interloper (Admittedly, a metre or so from the Spot, but he always did things in his own fashion )



May 2006
Takahe



July 2006
SV (Ms Madness herself!)



November 2007
Bandit



February 2008
One-Eyed Dogfox


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The Old Dogfox, of course, used the spot too, but I cannot seem to find a good photo of him there So, just for completeness, here he is at the back of the garden


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Just one other piece of news: the Silver Dogfox has thrown off his ear infection and I'm no longer attempting to capture him. He looks in fine shape, but is still much less frequent a visitor than his vixen.

Being a creature of the wild doesn't seem so attractive when gales of 80mph are battering the country All the trees are shaking, the gulls are flying low, and the foxes are largely hiding.

I haven't even attempted to go out today, but did do a spot of garden watching

Robin



Nuthatch



It's a tough time for them all. Our smallest local bird is the goldcrest, which weighs about five grams Flying must be an impossibly difficult task for them when the weather is this unmerciful. I haven't even seen many pigeons in the sky today. On the plus side, once the storm does pass, there will probably be a frenzy of activity as wildlife tries to make up for lost feeding time, so maybe I'll get more sightings then.
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I have, however, some fox news. The Silver Dogfox has reappeared after an absence of a fortnight (at least, I didn't see him during that time; it's possible that he was coming very late at night). He is showing signs of an ear infection and I've asked for a cagetrap to get him treated. He will be a very difficult fox to catch, because the trail cam shows that he likes 2-4am and I cannot leave the trap overnight because the risk of him injuring himself while trying to escape is too great.

This photo isn't the greatest, but you can see him holding his head on one side, with the infected ear held low.



And a short trail cam clip...