Mammal of the day

[The Black Rabbit]

That sounds excellent mate!
WHAT a result!
Proves that getting up at 4am on saturday morning has its benefits eh?
VERY much looking forward to seeing your upcoming fox shots (that's SHOTS ) and good luck pal!
Doug

[mh68]

Cheers mate considering the effort i`ve put in tracking them, without a single sighting locally its a major result..

Mark H

[Deer Stalker]

While hidden, watching Kingfishers on the Forest today, 3 Fallow does, one of last years fawns & one of this years fawns crossed the stream a few meters away from me.

[vole-woman]

Magic!

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

While hidden, watching Kingfishers on the Forest today, 3 Fallow does, one of last years fawns & one of this years fawns crossed the stream a few meters away from me.

Nice one Si. I`ve only had a very brief glimpse of one of this year`s Roe Fawns up here so far and thats all.

Mark H

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by mh68

Nice one Si. I`ve only had a very brief glimpse of one of this year`s Roe Fawns up here so far and thats all.

Mark H

Won't be long before you see more Mark. They're already moving around a bit more with their dams.

[mh68]

The one I (briefly) saw was very small, maybe a week old,and it was quite comical to watch as it ran away with its little legs going ten to the dozen
Going to have to go back there soon and try and get some pics...

Mark H

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by mh68

The one I (briefly) saw was very small, maybe a week old,and it was quite comical to watch as it ran away with its little legs going ten to the dozen
Going to have to go back there soon and try and get some pics...

Mark H

Look forward to seeing them mate.

[deer boy]

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

While hidden, watching Kingfishers on the Forest today, 3 Fallow does, one of last years fawns & one of this years fawns crossed the stream a few meters away from me.

Where was your camera

[deer boy]

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

Look forward to seeing them mate.

I second that & also look forward to some of your fox pics

[mh68]

Originally Posted by deer boy

I second that & also look forward to some of your fox pics

I`ll certainly do my best....already started baiting a spot for the Foxes, first clear morning we get this week i`ll be up there with the camera

Mark H

[pressld2]

I'm still putting a small bowl of "Spike's Dinner" out by our patio doors every night for Milligan, our hedgehog. And every night before going to bed I sneak into the living room to see if he's there and watch for a while if he is.

Last night, just after midnight, I went for a look and there was a beautiful young vixen scoffing away. I managed to get within about 18 inches of her before she noticed I was there. Even then I think the glass between us must have made her feel more secure as she didn't bolt but carried on eating for a few minutes while occasionally looking up at me and flattening herself to the ground. I tried to avoid eye contact as I know some animals see that as a threat but it was very hard. After two or three minutes she'd either eaten enough or my presence was starting to worry her and she disappeared.

I haven't seen Milligan for about a week so I hope he's still getting some grub. Lovely as it was to see the vixen, foxes are doing quite alright on their own while hedgehogs are in decline and could do with a bit of a helping hand.

Dave P.

[mh68]

Originally Posted by pressld2

I'm still putting a small bowl of "Spike's Dinner" out by our patio doors every night for Milligan, our hedgehog. And every night before going to bed I sneak into the living room to see if he's there and watch for a while if he is.

Last night, just after midnight, I went for a look and there was a beautiful young vixen scoffing away. I managed to get within about 18 inches of her before she noticed I was there. Even then I think the glass between us must have made her feel more secure as she didn't bolt but carried on eating for a few minutes while occasionally looking up at me and flattening herself to the ground. I tried to avoid eye contact as I know some animals see that as a threat but it was very hard. After two or three minutes she'd either eaten enough or my presence was starting to worry her and she disappeared.

I haven't seen Milligan for about a week so I hope he's still getting some grub. Lovely as it was to see the vixen, foxes are doing quite alright on their own while hedgehogs are in decline and could do with a bit of a helping hand.

Dave P.

Excellent stuff Dave, youre very, very fortunate to have Foxes visiting your garden - i`d give my left kidney to have them in our garden
Our hogs dont usually visit regularly until Autumn, I guess theyre getting enough food elsewhere so I wouldnt worry too much

Mark H

[mh68]

First dawn foray after the Foxes was pretty dismal this morning. Heavy rain at dawn had me soaked before I`d even set up.No sign of any Foxes.
The resident Rabbits kept me amused though,coming to within 10yds of me as i sat behind my makeshift hide, which at least gave me the confidence that the spot i`d chosen for the prevailing winds was spot-on,and that I was suitably concealed.
As an experiment I tried popping the flashgun to see what their reaction would be - the nearest Rabbit (about 10yds away at the time) came bounding towards me!!! getting to within 12ft of my position!! Didnt want to risk getting the DSLR soaked so made do with some nice video footage of them feeding - not often you get to see healthy Rabbits so close.
Back up there later to bait up again, and out again at dawn tomorrow, weather permitting. I`m still confident of getting some nice Fox shots eventually...provided I can endure the rabid Mossies that hammered me this morning when the rain stopped

Mark H

[Jez]

Hi Mark

long time no speak on WAB. Good to see a big welcome back from long going WABBERS aye. I'd like to ask you, due to the success of your shots, what it is you use as bait and how much you put down, seeing this can be an expense ,but one that definitely rewards you in quality takes!

Cheers

Jez

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Jez

Hi Mark

long time no speak on WAB. Good to see a big welcome back from long going WABBERS aye. I'd like to ask you, due to the success of your shots, what it is you use as bait and how much you put down, seeing this can be an expense ,but one that definitely rewards you in quality takes!

Cheers

Jez

Hi bud hope youre well

I dont normally use bait, as most of the spots I visit arent close enough to home to be able to bait daily, which is necessary to get the animal`s confidence and keep them coming back. Baiting for these Foxes is really the first proper opportunity i`ve had to try the technique with them being just up the road. Currently putting out mincemeat, meatballs, chopped apples and peanut butter sandwiches whether it works or not remains to be seen, but i`m pretty hopeful. I`ve tried baiting some local areas for Voles/Mice this last week or so but without much success, using seed,jam,and apple slices. lack of success is probably more to do with poor choice of baited area though with these,for such common mammals theyre tricky at times.
All my other shots i`ve posted (bar the Woodmice which were taken in the garden - fallen seed from the feeders attracted them)have just been taken while stalking.

Mark H

[Pat]

Try some raw eggs my foxes love them, it's fascinating watching them pick up the eggs without breaking them.

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Pat

Try some raw eggs my foxes love them, it's fascinating watching them pick up the eggs without breaking them.

Hi Pat, I was going to try them once I was sure Foxes are clearing the bait up and not something else. Just putting cheap stuff out until I know for sure it`s worth putting other things out for them
Do you have Foxes visiting your garden?

Mark H

[Jez]

Always well esp when my thoughts submerge in the fountain of youth thanx

A number of mammals have taken to the dried cat food that I have put down and also bacon fat which has been had also from wrens + the grated cheese!

Don't give up, I'm optimistic you'll get good results

best wishes

Jez

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Jez

Always well esp when my thoughts submerge in the fountain of youth thanx

A number of mammals have taken to the dried cat food that I have put down and also bacon fat which has been had also from wrens + the grated cheese!

Don't give up, I'm optimistic you'll get good results

best wishes

Jez

Glad to hear it Dont worry I wont give up....unless it bankrupts me or my knees give out LOL!!

Mark H

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by deer boy

Where was your camera

Hi Deer boy.

The camera was in my bag. As I was watching the Kingfisher nest-hole I didn't bother getting it out & if I had moved to get it out, I would have been spotted.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by mh68

Glad to hear it Dont worry I wont give up....unless it bankrupts me or my knees give out LOL!!

Mark H

well all being good neither!!!!

[gez]

Hi mark
those are great deer pics. how close were you ?. ive not been out looking for them for a looong time now. ive been watching urban foxs up here near wallsend for a while now got some great shots of there cubs two weeks ago. will post one soon. they have moved even closer now but a little harder to photograph, still see the adults in the st when i get time to look, so keep up the good work. gez

[Pat]

Originally Posted by mh68

Hi Pat, I was going to try them once I was sure Foxes are clearing the bait up and not something else. Just putting cheap stuff out until I know for sure it`s worth putting other things out for them
Do you have Foxes visiting your garden?

Mark H

Unfortunately I haven't a garden but I've been feeding foxes near our local wood for about 6 years now, I've watched their families come and go year after year, this year we've only 6 cubs but last year there were 16 quite a spectacular sight I don't know if it's possible to go back to posts a couple of years ago I used to post a lot about my foxes then, also some pics in the Gallery, unfortunately I've got terminal cancer so can't visit them as much as i'd like to but I've got a good friend who lives next to the wood who'll look after them when I can't. BTW one thing the foxes won't eat is dried cat and dog food, apparently they can't digest it. Anyway I hope you see some of these lovely creatures soon

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Pat

Unfortunately I haven't a garden but I've been feeding foxes near our local wood for about 6 years now, I've watched their families come and go year after year, this year we've only 6 cubs but last year there were 16 quite a spectacular sight I don't know if it's possible to go back to posts a couple of years ago I used to post a lot about my foxes then, also some pics in the Gallery, unfortunately I've got terminal cancer so can't visit them as much as i'd like to but I've got a good friend who lives next to the wood who'll look after them when I can't. BTW one thing the foxes won't eat is dried cat and dog food, apparently they can't digest it. Anyway I hope you see some of these lovely creatures soon

Ahhh Pat i`m so sorry to hear that, I dont know what to say

Thanks for the tip about the dried food, something to avoid then. Just been up to put the bait out - theyve got a couple of eggs this evening as well as the usual
I`ll check back to read your Fox posts/pics...theyre my favourite UK mammal bar none

Mark H