Fox Den Watching: 3rd Visit.
8th May 2012: I didn’t intend fox watching this evening, but I saw the cubs as I neared the den and decided to chance my luck. I spent two and a half hours in the most uncomfortable tree imaginable: it was a double forked oak. I wasn’t prepared for sitting in a tree; this was the problem.
I sat in the tree from 6.00pm to 8. 30pm, but it wasn’t until 8. 15pm that the action started; just as the light was beginning to fail. The light was pretty decent for most of this evening, not brilliant, but workable without artificial lighting.
I saw two foxes with kills, in the undergrowth, at different times, but they wouldn’t approach the den: they sensed my presence. I sat and waited, and watched the light slowly disappear. I was thinking of calling it a night, when a dog fox rushed to the den with a kill; it looked very much like the North Pond coot to me, but it turned out to be a mole. Five very excited cubs appeared aboveground, as if my magic, to greet him. He didn’t stay long; it looks like he saw me in the tree.
I took almost three hundred images during the following fifteen minutes. The cubs put on a marvelous show for me. My evening turned into a joyous occasion and my earlier discomfort quickly forgotten.
Brilliant stuff Mike really pleased for you,trust that you are now sitting on a very soft cushion.
Stretched out on my recliner, Dave. I have waited a long time for the north marsh fox cub images. Yes, I am very happy with the result. 🙂
That adult fox knew where you were and half trusted to no overt danger. Good stuff, Dave. Appreciate the self control.
These are magnificent and worth the sore “ahem.” I’ll be sharing this post on my Saturday Linky Love!
Wonderful. How exciting to have been there.
Indeed! Its amazing how many of the spur of the moment decisions bear fruit. 🙂
absolutely awesome mike!!!! you are so patient to wait so long in the bruising fork of the tree … now that is something i can aspire to …. more patience with nature …fabulous rewards for you and for us to see your pics 🙂
Thank you, Christine. Perhaps the saying “No pain, no gain,” is correct. 😮
Omigosh omigosh!! These are magnificent…. Patience wins — how very wonderful! Absolutely beautiful.
Thank you. 🙂
Wonderful photos.
What a great experience and thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Vicki. I’m badger watching this morning. 🙂
MORE! MORE! MORE!
Maybe I will post another fox cub item later today. Thank you. 🙂
A salute to not only your patience, perseverance, and stamina, but also to your willingness to trust that something good may yet happen, though it seems high time that something should have. It’s also a credit to your, um, assiduous serenity in the face of cramped discomfort, that the adults trusted you enough to let the kits out to play. You must be very proud!
Yes, I am very please to have watched the mole devouring spectacle. Thanks, Gary. 🙂
wonderful and worth the effort, my knees hurt just reading about your experiences, thanks MJ
Thanks, MJ. My knees were OK. It was my feet and backside that felt the stain. It was worth it. I don’t have any aches and pains this morning, so it couldn’t have been as bad as I imagined.
Your patience & discomfort were well rewarded! A fabulous set of photos of fox cubs.
Thanks, Julia. I hope I will have my tree seat with me next time. 🙂
Great pics Mike, glad your patience paid of. Must have been a nightmare going through all this pics and pick the top ones 🙂
Thanks. I haven’t gone through them all yet, and probably never will; I just picked a few images for the blog. My problem is that I take the photographs and then do next to nothing with them ever again, apart from save them on to a separate hard drive. I get my enjoyment from watching the animals, being outdoors, and getting the images I see in my mind’s eye. Once I have the images, they cease to interest me. The photography process is one of the many facets that make up my whole nature experience. It’s shooting animals, without hurting them. 🙂
Know exactly what you mean. For example I returned earlier today from a round trip and had 270 pics and still haven’t gone through the other 400 from last week. Shooting in RAW format however takes up a lot of space, so I have to sort out my pics but still end up with more than I actually need.
I always shoot raw.
OMG, I’m in love. They are adorable. And you are patient and dedicated! Wow!
Now then, Dezra! Your comment is not clear: I am assuming that you are in love with the fox cubs. 😀
LOL! Yes. I’d say that I’m blushing, but I’m not. I’m laughing too hard.
Well I might post another foxy item tonight, so be sure to have your starry eyes close by. 😀
Can’t wait *sighs* 🙂
They were lovely pictures of the foxes cubs. It was a lovely yesterday to take photos of them. Rather you than me, I couldn’t wait patiently taking photographs of wildlife. Well done.
Pingback: Linky Love: Monday’s Child Is Fair of Face | Got My Reservations
Beautiful photos. Such gorgeous creatures. Amazing to capture the cubs like that.
Thank you! 🙂
That first shot really caught my eye. The mama does not look happy to see you! Does she have a bead on you or what? Great pictures. Want to be a mentor? Just kidding.
She heard the camera shutter.
Ah of course! My blonde.
Fox cubs are so beautiful. I love watching them play.
Thank you, Isobel. I like the foxes, too.
Stunning photos… how wonderful to have been able to watch them and capture the moments! 🙂
Thank you! I am glad you like the images.
Pingback: The Fox’s Breeding Season Begins Again | The Wilden Marsh Blog