Cyn's Nature Notes: Three Foxes

Saturday 24 September 2011

Three Foxes

We put the fox food out as usual, but as often happens now we were busy and only looked occasionally, interestingly we saw more of the foxes tonight than we have for a long time.

Several times I glanced out and saw nothing then suddenly the young female was there, she is very nervous and we don't see her as often as her brother. She timidly comes from behind a bush and looking about her slowly approaches the food and delicately takes a piece before backing off to stand and eat it. This is very different from her brother who boldly marches in lays down by the food and steadily eats it all.

Tonight the young female had barely started eating, just three mouthfuls, when she suddenly started looked up and tore away. It was her brother, his fur is much darker, his tread much more certain and in build already larger and stronger looking than his sister, who is paler, smaller and timid. Unfortunately she has good reason to rush away as he sets about her making her whimper and yelp.

Once her brother shows up she rushes away and we don't see her again, tonight she must have been extra hungry because after a few minutes she crept back very slowly and low, her belly almost brushing the lawn. She managed to sneak a piece and slowly moved back into the bushes with it, but the second time the young male chased her off and we didn't see her again.

After the young male had finished feeding and left, I still kept an eye on the lawn wondering if his young sister would return. She didn't, but I was surprised about ten minutes later to see the older vixen ---their mother sniffing around the area where the food had been. She must have been hungry because she spent a long time going over the lawn and although there was nothing visible she was clearly finding something.

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About this Blog

When we moved to our present home in December 1987, I was very ill and bedridden. My garden was a life-saver, although it was very different then. The first thing I did was to put up bird-feeders, and long hours were spent lying indoors in a recliner. This was when I discovered many things. Do you know the underside of every blue tit’s tail is differently marked? Gradually, over the years, the garden changed. We put in shrubs and plants that would not only enhance the garden, but would also be good for wildlife. The first rabbit we saw was so joyful for us. The deer eat the flowers, prune the apple trees, eat the marrow, and are wonderful to watch. Foxes have been a major part of our wildlife. We have fed them each night for more than 20 years. They are such a delight, especially in late summer and early autumn when there are youngsters. They behave like puppies and are great fun to watch.

I love all wildlife: the mason bees that nest in the brickwork of the bungalow, the hornets that last year made their home in the roof above our bedroom, the bees currently nesting in the roof above the bathroom. On a hot evening, if you stand quietly in the bathroom, you can hear this amazing sound: it is very rhythmic and reminds me of the waves at the seaside. It is made by the beating of the bees’ wings as they fan their nest to keep the temperature at the right level -- how many people have heard that sound? I feel so privileged.

Obviously, I feed the birds. When I open the window in the morning I call “Come on Bobby and Blackie”, and one followed swiftly by the other they fly immediately to the bird table. Each morning, on rising, I make my way to the kitchen and find the squirrels already sitting on the window ledge waiting to be fed. Winter brings the moorhens and spring time the mallards. Our pond is a poor effort from a human point of view, but wild creatures see it differently. On summer days, the grass snakes spend long hours in the pond: eating the fish, froglets, toadlings, newts, and any other living creature they can swallow. Although I hate to see the pond emptied this way, I do enjoy the snakes and feel they are an important part of the balance of nature in the garden. Watching a dragonfly nymph climbing out of the pond, up a plant stalk, and then over the next few hours gradually transforming into a beautiful dragonfly -- these are contented hours well spent.

It has been my pleasure to write and publish a nature column each month. I am always delighted to hear how much pleasure this brings to my readers. I have often been asked if I have written a book, so I am making more of my writings and photography available through this web site and blog.