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Tales of a South Downs fox... and other ramblings

Nicked-ear pays a visit

Friday, 7. November 2008, 00:13:35

,

I was beginning to wonder where the foxes had got to. I did see one across the road a few nights ago, trotting tidily along the pavement late at night, but other than several cats the garden has been unusually devoid of foxes. The rain of course doesn't help (it keeps me inside for some of the time, so the odds are I've missed numerous fleeting visits), though it has produced an explosion of sightings of the damselfly nymphs. The pond is swarming with them, so much so that I'm now in the business of selecting which shots of them to take. This is one from earlier this evening, which shows the distinctive triple tail fins (actually gills).

Damselfly nymph

But this post is about foxes, and looking out into the garden later in the evening I saw a familiar shape by the pond. By this time I'd switched from the macro lens I'd been using earlier around the pond and had the 70-300mm zoom attached to the camera. For once, a good lens choice. These shots were all taken from a distance of about 30 feet.

Nicked-ear vixen

Up by the pond

Given the scarcity of recent visits I stayed close to the back door, not wanting to startle her. Although she's reasonably relaxed about me being around, unlike the old dog fox or the bold vixen she isn't keen on getting too close (at least not unless she's the one making the decision). I was able to get a number of decent shots though as she nipped back and forth across the garden.

Pausing to look

Until finally she decided she'd had enough and zipped back across the garden and out under the fence.

Exit right
Nature Blog Network
Camera note: the damselfly nymph was photographed with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro lens plus Kenko Teleplus 1.4x Pro 300 DG teleconverter. For the vixen I used the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens. All shots were lit by the Canon 430EX flash unit.

Fox of the DayWater and light

Comments

Ukwildlife 7. November 2008, 00:40

great photos.

When yo say ypu used the 70-300mm lens are you using that at 300mm? If so does the falsh have that reach on it own or do you use a 'flash focuser' thing - Ive forgotten the proper name for it.

gdare 7. November 2008, 05:34

Beautiful fox. She looks healthy and in good shape, no matter the rain and cold days :up:

Words 7. November 2008, 07:30

Neil, the focal lengths of those shots are 260, 180, 75 and 140mm respectively. I was shooting at ISO 400, at between f/10 and f/8 with a shutter speed of 1/100s. The flash is set to -2/3rds exposure compensation. No other attachments though (did you mean a 'better beamer' type flash extender?). I do increase the brightness and levels in processing, but generally the flash will cover the garden (technically 80 feet, but I'm usually no more than 60 feet from anything).

Words 7. November 2008, 07:31

Thanks Darko, she certainly seems in very good condition.

Vulpes vulpes 7. November 2008, 11:27

Ah, she really is a beauty!

Words 7. November 2008, 22:27

Vulpes, I have to agree!

CedarFox 8. November 2008, 03:21

She's got quite the magnificent brush :smile:

Words 8. November 2008, 12:41

Eric, I think this is the best time of year for them, as their winter coat comes into its own. But she's been in consistently good shape all year which is great to see.

Flying Red Fox Blog 8. November 2008, 18:37

Shes such a pretty Fox or Vixen isnt she and very photogenic. :D

Words 8. November 2008, 19:08

Mark, yes she has those classic fox looks for sure. I can never be sure when she'll show up, but I try to get as many pictures of her as I can when she does.

Flying Red Fox Blog 8. November 2008, 19:41

I had an aidea, maybe you can film her aswell. :D Its a tough choice though, to film or take photos, i often face that dilemma! Photos do last longer and can be looked at easier though.

I have also noiced this time of year is unusually quiet, or at least round my area, no large fireworks going off.... could it be due to the credit crunch making people think they are not worth buying perhaps? I dont mind the peace and quiet though. P:

Words 8. November 2008, 20:56

Mark, I would love to get some video of her, but I haven't got any equipment that will work at night and she doesn't visit in the day :frown: I did think about getting some sort of night-cam, but haven't bitten that bullet yet. As for fireworks, it does seem to have been quieter this year. Wet weather and a mid-week November 5th probably has made the difference. I'm not complaining though :wink:

UrbanExtension 9. November 2008, 15:22

Great pictures of the nymphs and the fox. I have a nighcam with infrared and motion sensors. Not too expensive, have a look at Handycam website. Lots of other bloggers I know use their equipment and it's very cheap (compared with other sites). It's a whole different world once you have a night camera (very addictive) and you can have a good nights sleep and look at it all in the morning over a cup of tea! Jane

Words 9. November 2008, 15:41

I'm scared by the fact you say it's very addictive, which I can well believe. But I must say I get tempted every now and then to get some sort of video cam set up out there. Imight finally get to view the local badger that way.

SittingFox 9. November 2008, 15:51

She's certainly looking very pretty. She manages to look very young all the time! :wink:

Words 10. November 2008, 07:26

Adele, thanks!

cakkleberrylane 12. November 2008, 02:59

We have had a fox in the yard over the past 2 or 3 weeks. He has wiped out about 2/3 of my chickens. They are fairly safe at night, but the fox comes during the day while they are out free-ranging. Any suggestions on how to stop this? The ones that have survived are the ones that can fly into the trees, but many of my flock are silkies and can't fly more than a foot or two. I would be happy to feed him somthing else if he would leave the chickens alone.

Flying Red Fox Blog 12. November 2008, 04:38

There could be a way to cage them and have a wide boundary and they can still be free range. For example, have a 20ft by 10ft high fenced area and they can still run and the Fox will be hindered and not get in?

I know it may seem like a prison that way but imagine a school playing field its becoming like that now lol P:

Words 12. November 2008, 07:38

Lois, I'm sorry to hear that you've had problems with the chickens. I doubt there's anything that will stop a fox once it has access. As Mark comented the only solution would seem to be fox-proof fencing, which would need to extend beneath the ground and be to high to climb over (assume that anything a cat could get over, a fox will too)

cakkleberrylane 13. November 2008, 20:26

Thanks Mark and Words. A fence is pretty much out of the question, the property is 2 1/2 acres and the price of fencing would be prohibitive. I would never hurt the foxes and I don't like the idea of relocating them either. I'm sure they would suffer a lot if they suddenly found themselves in unfamiliar territory.

I know a man a mile or so away who would be willing to take the remaining chickens and I think I'll just give them to him. I could keep a couple that are not able to get out of the fenced in yard and that wouldn't be too much to bring inside at night.

Words 13. November 2008, 21:26

Yes I guess with a space that size fencing is only viable if you are running a major business. Such a shame though :frown:

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