Faithful Foxes

I don't go out on walks like I used to so I invite the animals to my garden in the evening where they can enjoy something to eat and some times have a play on the grass. I think I have identified 4 foxes, a couple of hdgehogs and a badger.

There is no squabbling and they seem to enjoy each others company, even next doors cat sometimes joins in. It is 75 years since I photographed my first fox. I used anothers camera so the photo has long been lost.
 

My Good Friend

It knows just when to call for its supper, often waiting outside my window. This wasthe start of a yawn but I was too quick  on the button. It was less than 3 feet away when I took this shot.

Its behaviour is so casual its just like a pet dog. It was in the garden once and I called it, it didn't come but neither did it run away.
 

Out of the blue.

 Talking to my neighbour over the garden fence when suddenly she shouted 'WHATS THAT' and pointed behind me , I turned and to my surprise a red kite was drifting towards me. My camera was in the car in the drive a few steps away. I managed a couple of shots before it disappeared over the rooftops. In my younger days I went to Wales as many as six times a year to photograph the kites and here was one over my back garden. They are not uncommon in my area but rarely seen now. I'm not so active these days but this is one bird that I shall track down.

Birthday visitor

 I had my 85th birthday a few days ago and true to form Junior came to my little celebration. He never lets me down.

Nightmare.

I have for many weeks suffered at the hands of Blogger. I cannot understand what is happening. I am having great difficulty sending E-mails and posting comments on others blogs and posting my own blogger posts.  I  understand that many of you are experiencing similar problems.  Please inform me if this post appears on your blog. Thankyou.

Young fox

I've had a load of trouble lately with my blog, so I am putting this one up as a test.

These picture were taken last night of one of the fox cubs that visit me every night.

As you can see they are quite used to me and look upon me as a friend.

I hope that one day I will gain their trust and will eat out of my hand.

These pictures were taken from my window, the fox being less than 2 metres away.
 

Problems

 Sorry folks, having a bit of trouble with your comments. They are appearing in my e-mails but not on my blog. At the moment I am unable to reply to them.  No doubt I shall get it fixed soon.

Fox Haven

The foxes are treating my garden like a real haven. Not a night goes by without several visiting more than once. They start at about dusk and carry on until well after dawn.

Some make themselves at home sitting down and enjoying a meal.

It has taken me some time to get the I/R camera to produce decent shots but I now think I have mastered it.

I am approaching my 85th birthday and walking my local woodlands with my camera gear is not an easy task so I have settled to what visits me and my dining table.

I am working for the day that they will eat out of my hand, I succeded a couple of years ago with hedgehogs. Foxes will be more difficult but one I find seems quite confident when I am around.

 

The foxes do me proud

Every evening the foxes call for their refreshment. They are so regular that you can set your watch by them.

Nearly always there is two or three together. They are happy to share.

Allways alert for the unwelcome guest.

This one has spotted me at my bedroom window, not that it will bother him.

He will often sit and pose for the camera. I am hoping that one day they will be bold enough to accept me much closer.
 

Foxes again

A little bit of humour to brighten the day.

They are getting so used to their visits they are even calling in daylight. They will be knocking on the door next.

This is one of the youngsters following in Dads footsteps. These were taken outside my front door.
 

My Foxes

This is Junior, he visits every night. He first came with his Mum and Dad but they went missing a couple of years ago, but Junior remained faithful and still comes.

This year he met up with a young female and has raised a family with her. Here she is hiding behind Junior enjoying her evening snack. Junior has already grabbed a big mouthful of biscuits and fed the youngsters. I have been invited to set my camera's up in a neighbours garden. I understand he has much going on in it after dark, So that is something to look forward to.

 

Hedgehog meets Fox

Hello who's this interupting my supper. Come out so I can see you.

Oh! Its only you I might as well get on with my meal.

 

Little foxes

I had a little success with the ifra/red camera. It has to be set up accurately or the pictures are ruined.The first picture show dad fox approaching the food.

Then he tucks into the meal of assorted dog bicuits and black grapes, yes they are rather partial to a grape.

After Dad comes a little one, he quickly starts to tuck in.

He enjoys the meal and eats a fair share before wandering off for a drink.

Which gives the chance of another to share in the meal.

This one really feels at home and sits comfortably to enjoy his share. They all seemed quite happy with the garden lights on and spent over half an hour enjoying the comfort of my garden.
 

Things are getting lively

It all starts off with a visit from a hedgehog, I put down special small biscuits for it and it gets here first before the foxes so it can feed undisturbed.

The young foxes have also learned this and visit before the adults finding plenty for them.

Dad rolls up last, so late it is now daylight. He prefers the larger biscuits of which there are plenty. This picture was taken at 5.30am. Its a very clever camera setup I have all this happened while I was fast asleep.
 

1st of the year

I know it is not a good picture but it is the first young fox to visit this year. the last fox to do so was the father of this one. So to me it is something special. The cameras are out and plenty of tastey biscuits are spread around hoping it calls again.
 

Hedgehog return

I set the infra-red camera up as usual to catch the foxes having their evening meal. First up was Sue the female.

Next was Junior now an adult in fine form. He always lets the ladies go first.

Then there was the suprise of the evening, a hedgehog, not been seen for more than 2 years since their home was destroyed by the use of a strimmer on a neighbours grass. Two died and the others fled.
It really made my day to think that in a couple of months time I could have a garden full of animals again.

Sue the female fox

I set a I/F camera last night outside my front door as there had been signs of a fox  just lately. Sure enough this morning I had pictures on the camera these two being the best taken at about 2o'clock in the morning. This fox I have named Sue, I did this when I realised she was pregnant. As you can see now the birth has taken place.

I am now having to wait patiently for a couple of weeks or so to be introduced to the family. We shall have a party in the garden to which I shall of course supply the food.
 

Foxes food

I got this picture from one of my I/R camera's at 0715hrs after it had been outside my front door all night. The fox was taking his victim home I expect to feed his family. It appears to have caught a gull of some kind of which they are many around the village. The photo's I get teach me a lot about wildlife that you don't find in books. For instance did you know foxes love fruit especially red grapes. Last year apples went missing off the lower branches of our trees and I often hear them squabbling over the grapes at night.
 

Fox corner

This was taken on my automatic infra red camera just after I had set it up for the evenings work. As you can see it works well in any light.

This picture was taken much later that night and it had adjusted itself to take infrared and as you can see it made a good job of it. This happened while I was fast  asleep.
 

Murder of the Badgers

I learned today of the number of badgers killed in the cull of last year. The official figure is 33,687, which brings the total since 2013 to more than 175,000. It is still not proven that badgers are responsible for the spread of the BTB. The infection is carried in the fluids of the body. Badgers have a latrine away from the sett. Unlike other animals who do it anywhere. Can you imagine cattle eating grass that another has urinated on. Work it out for yourselves it is almost impossible for a badger to infect a cow. I have had many photographic holidays on a  farm and one was in a red area during an outbreak a few years ago and on that farm were two setts that I knew of. We used to feed them and visitors could watch them on television. BTB was never a problem.
 Badgers are welcome on my property where there will be food and protection from stupidity.