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Tuesday, 6 April 2021

The unexpected

Well after the excitment of the events of the last few days I decided to place the I/R camera at th bottom of the garden where there were scuff marks in the rough grass. The following morning when I checked the camera to my surprise I found these pictures.


 The fox was expected, but a badger was not. If you look close to the badgers tail you can see a dark patch. This turns out to be a hedgehog. The badger seems to be taking no notice of it. I always understood that a badger was a great enemy of the hog because the hog is a tastey meal, the badger is the only animal that can 'undo' a hog when it is curled up in defence.

As the following picture shows the badger walking off showing no interest in the hog at all. I wondered if it was another unlikely friendship.

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12 comments:

  1. Breathtaking7 April 2021 at 09:59

    Good morning Mike,:=) Ha Ha, Wonders never cease! I would like to think it is an unlikely friendship.

    I didn't mention it, but thanks for the tips on leaving out food for a fox.:=)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood7 April 2021 at 23:43

      Hello Sonjia,
      I have seen it before, it can happen. Good luck tempting a fox. They are intelligent animals and respond to care. Stay safe.
      Mike.

      Delete
  2. David M. Gascoigne,7 April 2021 at 12:07

    Good morning Mike: I thunk your readers are starting to have as much fun with this as you are! It certainly is an unexpected outcome and perhaps illustrates how little we really know of animal behaviour. Be sure to keep us posted! David

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood7 April 2021 at 23:50

      Thankyou David, I am doing my best to encourage more animals to take part. Stay safe.
      Mike.

      Delete
  3. waldlaeufer68 Frank Scholtyssek8 April 2021 at 19:25

    Hi Mike
    the badger was probably already full, so the hedgehog got another chance
    Greetings Frank

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood9 April 2021 at 00:19

      Its not the first time thats happened, Frank. Witnessing it without a camera was the reason I bought the I/R camera's. I have hundreds of photo's of foxes and hogs but the badgers move a little too quick for the I/R camera so many photo's are discarded. Stay safe.
      Mike.

      Delete
  4. Ana Mínguez Corella10 April 2021 at 17:10

    Hi Mike... Very interesting explanation.. I love these animals... Congrats 👏 👏👏

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood10 April 2021 at 19:39

      I love them too Ana, I held my first swift when I was about 5 and stroked a fox when I was about seven and I've held many birds and animals ever since. Stay safe.
      Mike.

      Delete
  5. Richard Pegler12 April 2021 at 20:38

    I'm delighted to see that the Badger didn't take too much interest in the Hedgehog, Mike. I'd always understood that the two species don't mix well! It's wonderful that you are still gewtting these visitors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood12 April 2021 at 23:36

      Hello Richard.
      The hogs have been away before because of the badgers but have always come back after a couple of days. Take care.
      Mike.

      Delete
  6. Titus John White19 April 2021 at 20:21

    Hello Mike,
    Good to see the Fox, hopefully she will turn up with her cubs, that would certainly make a superb post, also good to see the Badger was not over interested in the Hog, it must have been full.
    You stay safe,
    John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood20 April 2021 at 23:32

      Hi John,
      I do have some interesting moments but To get a family of foxes in the garden, I should be so lucky. Stay safe.
      Mike.

      Delete

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Mike Attwood - Photographer

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About Me

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Evacuated during the second world war to a village in Yorkshire where I lived in the home of a good photographer for more than five years who taught me the basics and a great deal about nature. Well past retirement age I have been a wildlife photographer for more than 30 years. Red Kites have been my speciality for much of this period. I did spend several years snapping wheelchair athletes and organizing the British Road Race Championship. In the year 2000 I was awarded a distinction by the Royal Photographic Society for my portfolio on wheelchair athletes. Most of my pics are digital, using Sony cameras and Sigma lenses. I used to spend many weeks each year with friends in Wales which is close to the Elan Valleys where I got many of my raptor pics. I now get these pictures more closely to home, specially red kites and peregrines. I support my pension by selling my pics, cards, coasters, fridge magnets and key rings etc. at craft fairs, something I wish I had done much earlier in life. I give illustrated talks to clubs and societies on wildlife and other branches of photography that I have been involved in.