Woodlife

Clear sunny day, but very cold 3 degree C with a cold easterly wind. I went to Airfield wood specifically to track the deer I had briefly glimpsed last week. I started on the west side of West wood to allow for the wind and entered the wood from the track. As soon as I entered the wood I saw a fox cross my path, right in front of me about 20m away.

I froze…it hadn’t noticed me. It was quite small, probably a female and I noticed she was carrying her rear left leg. My camera! It was in my pack, slung on my shoulders (and not as normal on my left shoulder). I dared not move but had to get my camera. Slow movements were the key. I’ve read their eyesight isn’t too good, as long as there’s no movement to attract their attention.

I couldn’t believe it, she sat down looking away from me. I slowly took the pack off my shoulders and reached in to get the camera. She started to move. Unbelievably a second fox came out of the bushes from my left. This must be the male. He was bigger, with a full deep red coat. I know that this time of year is near mating season and they hang around in pairs.

I dropped my bag. Both looked around, but didn’t spot me as I froze again. But this was enough for them to walk away. I quickly managed to get a couple of photos and looked up in time to see the female run after a rabbit. No competition with her injured leg and the rabbit escaped.

While the female chased the rabbit, the male was jumping in and out of the bushes. I didn’t manage to get a picture of them both together. After a while, they both disappeared out of the wood. I followed, but lost sight of them.

This was a great sighting for me, and reinforced my decision to take up watching nature and bushcraft again. I was grinning like an idiot all the way home!!