Magic moment

[John]

I have just had an enthralling 30 minutes. I went to close my bedroom curtains at 9:15pm and was stopped in my tracks right by the window. In front of me, less than ten feet away, was a young Fox. I had seen a pair for a few minutes about a month ago but this time it was an extensive view as it didn't go until a youth with a beer can walked by and frightened it off.

What made it even better was that 5 minutes into watching the Fox a Hedgehog sauntered along the path and then walked onto the grass and at one point they were virtually nose to nose for ages. Then a ginger and white Cat came onto the path and I thought the Fox would go but no it just looked at the cat as the cat walked by, both totally unconcerned with each other, then carried on snuffling at whatever it was after on the grass. The Hedgehog momentarily curled up but was soon into feeding on the grass.

They were right under my front garden feeders and I can only assume that both Fox and Hedgehog are feeding on the bits the birds leave behind.

Boy that was a lovely 30 minutes in my life.

John

[Garden Carpet]

what a lovely thing to have happen John...are you going to watch tomorrow.. armed with your trusty camera?
jaki

[John]

Originally Posted by Garden Carpet

what a lovely thing to have happen John...are you going to watch tomorrow.. armed with your trusty camera?
jaki

I had my camera with me Jaki but it was far too dark to take a photo. I could have tried with a flash but I didn't want to scare it off.

I don't want the Fox to associate that spot with a fright so I will leave it in peace, That way I should get to see it quite often

John

[goosey]

Originally Posted by John

I had my camera with me Jaki but it was far too dark to take a photo. I could have tried with a flash but I didn't want to scare it off.

I don't want the Fox to associate that spot with a fright so I will leave it in peace, That way I should get to see it quite often

John

I admire you forethought at not rushing in taking photo's straight away, and maybe frightening it off for good. It's a lovely story and I hope you are rewarded with more visits.

[John]

Originally Posted by goosey

I admire you forethought at not rushing in taking photo's straight away, and maybe frightening it off for good. It's a lovely story and I hope you are rewarded with more visits.

Hi Shirley

According to my next door neighbour she has seen a pair most nights on my front lawn for over two months now. When I go to look I seem to time it on the days they either don't visit or visit later than when I check.

It seems they like foraging underneath my bird feeders and have now probably made it one of their nightly vigils.

John

[winniewig]

Isnt it such a buzz? Theres nothing better I think than seeing nature, being nature. My mind is casting back to springwatch, and the fox diaries, and how amazed I was. And that wasnt in my front garden! It must has been fantasic John.

I hope you dont mind but I would like to share a story too. I saw a pair of otters in my local River (Parrett). Funny coindence really, I was watching a pair of mute swans, when a chap came along the path, he asked if I was looking for the otters, "otters!", theres otters!" I said rather excitedly, to a bemused looking man. We chatted about it a little, grilling him for info. I Then walked about 1/4mile along the river. And there they were! I stopped dead, and dropped to the ground, they were no more 10 meters away. I lay there watching them, swimming and diving looking for food, for what seemed to be ages, I think it was about a minute! And then came a bounding was a spaniel dog! The otters sort of sat up, with just their heads obove the water, side-by-side, their cute little faces looked directly at me, at this point I remember A big wet nose, the dog wondering what i'm doing, and in that split second, one last dive, and they were gone.

[glsammy]

A great experience John.
We've been lucky in having foxes move through our small garden a few times, but I've never seen they stay any length of time. We also recently had a hedgehog, the first for many years.

As for Winniewig's experience, what wouldn't we all give to have had a bit of that! You lucky so and so!

[Pete Collins]

That must have been a fantastic experience, John!

I've never really seen a fox so close up (the nearest was when I saw one in long grass about 25 feet away, just for a few seconds), but like you with the hedgehog, I did once see a fox and another animal at the same time (no, it wasn't a rabbit!).

I was walking through Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk one time, along a long straight sandy track, when I saw a fox emerge from the trees about two hundred yards ahead of me. I stopped still and watched it for a few seconds as it nosed around the side of the track. I then became aware of movement in the bushes about halfway between me and the fox. A muntjac deer appeared, and unaware of me or the fox, ambled across the track and back into the trees and bushes the other side.

Now I know that neither foxes nor muntjacs are particularly uncommon, but to see them both at the same time was a real treat!

As for a close-up view of otters ..... ! I am so jealous!

[John]

Gee Winniewig that must have been some experience. The only Otters I have seen was off the North Scottish Coast and they were over 100 yards away so a close encounter like that would blow me away.

I had to fill the front feeders up yesterday. The grass has really grown underneath them due to my Mower going kaput and I noticed that the grass had been completely flattened down around the base of the tree.

It is obvious that this must be a nightly vigil for the Fox so I camped myself by the window last night and sure enough, just after 9:30pm, the young Fox came to the base of the tree and started snuffling around it. It was there still 15 minutes later but suddenly looked up and bolted. Then I saw something running as though chasing it. It stopped short of the road and it was then I realised it was the other young Fox. It turned and it to came to the base of the tree and proceeded to do the same as the other young Fox. It stayed for just over ten minutes before moving off around the side of my Bungalow and out of view.

They may not come tonight as I am running a Moth Trap and the side of my place is bathed in light but I will go every now and again and look to see if they are brave enough to put in an appearance.

John

[winniewig]

Hi John. Did they come back?