Adele

Frozen Morn

Tuesday, 6. January 2009, 12:27:19

meadow foxes, winter, sunrise, tracking

Enough said!

Golden foxes

Shepherd's Warning

The sun cometh

Squirrel tracks

No more snow has fallen (yet) but it is still very cold

If I Were a Fox...Winter's Light

Comments

gdare # 6. January 2009, 12:35

It has been cold all over Europe this morning. In some places in Serbia it was around -20C.
Nice photos, especially a foxes in early morning

Dudley # 6. January 2009, 12:39

I came, I saw, I commented

SittingFox # 6. January 2009, 12:52

@Darko - wow!

I hear from a friend in Jasper that it was -35c there recently

but these are exceptionally cold conditions for Europe, up here at least. The nearest weather station to me said -6, but I think it was probably colder here.

Thanks!

Those foxes were ridiculously far away but I liked the light on them, so I thought I'd post that shot anyway

SittingFox # 6. January 2009, 12:52

@Andy - and thanks for doing so!

lokutus_prime # 6. January 2009, 15:24

It's cold in North Hampshire this morning, -2C (it's a heatwave compared to Serbia). The country roads are well salted but I dont think this the case on the the rural tracks that lead to farms hidden away and accesible by narrow winding lanes that seem to go on forever, until you suddenly run out of lane and there you are, staring at the gate to a farm and asking yourself "did I really mean to take this shortcut to town?" The foxes are there but not as apparent as those that you take care of. If they were I would also be taking pictures too. Your pages are a delight to visit.

Dacotah # 6. January 2009, 16:02

Ukwildlife # 6. January 2009, 17:08

great photos. I can confirm its been damn cold the last two days, having spenbt most of them outside!

SittingFox # 6. January 2009, 20:09

@Loku - true, Siberia is far colder (and so is Canada - I hear that it's approaching -60c in windchill in the north right now

) but, well, it's the first time that I've been really cold in the UK for some while! They don't really grit roads around here at all, and I've been skidding about while out hiking despite wearing heavy walking boots.

Foxes can be good at hiding themselves but their tracks in the snow gives them away

Thanks!

SittingFox # 6. January 2009, 20:10

@Carol - thanks!

SittingFox # 6. January 2009, 20:13

@Neil - looks like it's going to be a tad chilly this evening too

I was wandering around for an hour this morning when it was -5c or so and I definitely think that I'll try thicker gloves if I go out for a walk tomorrow...

Thanks!

Dacotah # 6. January 2009, 20:37

Wulpen # 6. January 2009, 21:44

Great Photos my side it is 31gr in the sun....

Words # 6. January 2009, 21:57

It was certainly cold this morning. Currently the reports are saying -5c here, but we're always a bit colder being exposed and 600+ feet up on the Downs. My hands are falling apart somewhat with the exposure, but needs (or the camera) must!

Wulpen # 6. January 2009, 21:59

Stardancer # 6. January 2009, 22:04

Beautiful!

cakkleberrylane # 7. January 2009, 01:39

Great photos! The first shot has an amazing atmosphere. I've always loved photos with a beautiful sky and the silouettes of trees!

ForestFloor # 7. January 2009, 03:07

The Golden Foxes photo is so beautiful! And the sun's rays over the fence on the third. And wow, those are big squirrel tracks!!

SittingFox # 7. January 2009, 09:02

@Erwin - all is freezing!

Perhaps the snowy owl that just landed in Cornwall knew what it was doing!

SittingFox # 7. January 2009, 09:03

@Words - it hit -10.2c just along the Downs last night and looks very grey outside this morning. Perhaps more snow is coming?

SittingFox # 7. January 2009, 09:03

@Stardancer - thanks!

SittingFox # 7. January 2009, 09:05

@Lois - thanks!

Those two were the only foxes that I saw while out walking yesterday. They didn't seem to be feeling the chill at all!

SittingFox # 7. January 2009, 09:06

@Christine - thanks!

I think the tracks look big because of the angle - but certainly, our squirrels are quite large.

lokutus_prime # 7. January 2009, 10:16

Adele, are there many red squirrels in evidence? Forgive my question if you have previously posted pics of same and I have not seen them.

SittingFox # 7. January 2009, 10:38

Sadly, we've lost our red squirrels here

There are supposed to be a few left in Norfolk, where I lived when I was studying at uni, but I never saw one. They're easier to find in Scotland and continental Europe.

lokutus_prime # 7. January 2009, 10:44

It's the same over here

In the lake about a mile from me there are plenty of greys, but I have never seen any reds. If I were to raise the spectre of culling greys and introducing more reds it would be a horrifying suggestion. I guess
in darwinian terms the 'survival of the fittest' is the natural way these things turn out in the end, although the introduction of the grey into the UK was not a random or any other 'selection' of Nature's imperative and seems to me to have very little to do with the "selfish gene".

Flying Red Fox Blog # 7. January 2009, 14:15

Lovelly photos

Its still vey chilly out there!

SittingFox # 8. January 2009, 15:24

@Loku - yes, it's a very sad situation but probably irreservable, and, realistically, here in the south we now have a choice between grey squirrels and no squirrels. Introducing species to habitats in which they are not native generally ends badly...sometimes very badly

There are still red squirrels on the Isle of Wight and Brownsea Island, which is something I guess.

SittingFox # 8. January 2009, 15:25

@Mark - thanks!

But getting warmer today, I think

although I'm not convinced that it's going to stay above freezing for long.