The Fox

(picture courtesy of ironammonite.com)

A few days ago the fox lay in wait at the bottom of the garden. That’s when I saw him. He was crouched in stalking position, bushy tail waving excitedly. Then he dived into the bushes, presumably after a bird. It could have been a squirrel but a squirrel is as canny as the fox, he would have been up and running at the first sniff of one. Or would he? I watched and could see the fox darting about but by this time he was always behind foliage so I didn’t get a clear view. I didn’t get a picture either. My camera was elsewhere and if I’d gone to get it the whole scenario would have been missed.

Nature can seem cruel sometimes but the fox has to survive, same as the rest of the wildlife. We feed the birds, and the birds feed the fox. Sad, but true.

The fox looked healthy and young, not old enough to have caught the mange or other life threatening disease. I actually thought there were two of them because one disappeared into the bushes on the right hand side of the garden and seconds later ‘appeared’ on the left. However, foxes are clever at disappearing and reappearing in the time it takes to blink so maybe that’s what happened ... I blinked.  If there were two it would have been good to see both youngsters playing together on the lawn.  

Later in the day I saw him again. Just the one. The sun was out, it was warm, and the Freddy the Fox was lying down, for all the world like he was sunbathing. I watched from the window until he moved and, as I thought, left the garden. I went down there to check and saw him lying amidst the undergrowth, in the area I designated as my wild patch, or to put it a better way, a wildlife patch. I spoke a few times. He looked at me for a couple of minutes, then got up and slunk away.

By early evening I was getting used to seeing him. Freddy found another sunny patch and decided to have a bit of a nap. I stayed in the house and watched. Cameras were fetched and shots taken but deep down Hubs and I knew it was a useless exercise considering the distance between him and us. Finally, Freddy stretched, stood up, had a scratch, and ambled off into the unknown.

A few sunny and warm days later I went down the garden to inspect the new growth in my 'rough patch'. Foxy must have been asleep behind a bush because for about five minutes there was nothing  but peace and quiet, then suddenly the animal darted out and rushed right past me before racing round the garden to his escape route. I couldn't believe I had been so close to him and me without camera as well. 

I hope he comes again. Perhaps I should carry the camera with me at all times ... regardless.