fox Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Craig Rogers Photography

The Vixen in Full Colour

4th May 20159th October 2017Craig Rogers

After putting the food out last night, I left the garden flood lights on and used my Land Rover as a hide. I wasn’t sure if she’d come with the lights on, but after waiting for about half an hour she showed up.

Even with the lights on, it’s very dark for a camera which meant a very high ISO of 3200. Even so, the shutter speed was only 1/20 second which means she had to be very still at the time of the photograph.

This is the best one I managed to get which I’m pretty happy with. It’s a bit “noisy” due to the high ISO, but still good enough.

I have the option of setting up a remote flash to light the scene, but I’m not a fan of this as I’m sure she won’t appreciate it. It worked for the Mouse shot a few weeks ago but pretty sure it would scare the Fox away and the last thing I want to do is spook her enough that she stops coming.

{Click image for a higher resolution, click Flickr Link in caption to view photo on Flickr}

Vixen - D7100, AF-S 300mm f/2.8 @ f/2.8, ISO3200, 1/20sec - {Flickr Link}

Finally, 100% proof that Vixen is feeding her young

5th April 201510th October 2017Craig Rogers

Captured earlier tonight, here is a quick clip of the Vixen in the garden. This angle shows 100% that she is feeding her cubs. You can clearly make out her lactating nipples. I now wait anxiously for the day that she brings them to the garden to feed, but that will be a few weeks off yet I suspect.

{Remember to watch in HD if possible}

Update on our Resident Foxes

29th March 201510th October 2017Craig Rogers

A couple of updates on our resident Foxes! As you can see from this still shot, I’m now certain this is the Vixen and that she has recently given birth. You can clearly see her enlarged nipples on her underside. The last few clips on the video below clearly show them.

I’ve also noticed a pattern over the last week. I have been filming them every night and the same thing happens. Last night it happened twice. The Male Fox comes to feed and after a few visits, he’ll return and pickup as much food as he can fit in his mouth. Then between 7 and 10 minutes later, the Vixen shows up. I can only assume that the Male is taking food back to her to eat and then she comes and visits herself. Last night this pattern occurred twice.

Check out the video from last night and I’ve added the times of each clip so you’ll see what I mean. It was very gusty last night so the Foxes where a bit more jumpy than usual which is why the Male in the “2nd sitting” performs multiple grab and runs! Remember to switch to HD where possible.

{Remember to watch in HD if possible}

Possible proof that the Vixen has given birth?

25th March 201510th October 2017Craig Rogers

Maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see, however, I set the Bushnell camera up last night to give a side angle of (again, what I think is) the Vixen.

It was a bit frosty last night so was affecting the camera lens a little so quality isn’t great, however, if you compare last nights still-shot against one from just over 2 weeks ago, I’m sure you’ll agree that this Fox is not as “round” as it was. The Fox in both photos are the same Fox as it’s recognisable by a long thin tail with the tip being slightly crooked.

Also, on last nights shot, is that proof of lactating????? There’s certainly some bumpy patches under there. I’ll try and get some super close-ups tonight.

9th March - Looks nice and round. — 9th March – Looks nice and round.

A visit from (what we think is) the Vixen.

23rd March 201510th October 2017Craig Rogers

Last night, we captured (what we believe to be) the Male Fox feeding and again taking mouthfuls of food away, possibly back to the Den to feed the Female. We also had the Mouse back stealing the food. The camera captured the male back for more food 9 minutes after taking away the mouthful. Therefore, if he is the male and he is taking food back to the female, then the Den can’t be far away.

Later in the morning, we did have a visit from what we think is the Female. She looks a little thinner than the last time we saw her (if she is indeed the she!). I couldn’t make out from the footage if she is lactating or not.

It’s not easy to determine the sex of a Fox, but the pair are vastly different. What we believe to be the Male has a big bushy tail and what we believe to be the female has a long thin tail.

I’ll continue to leave the camera out at night, any developments, I’ll let you know.

Mouthful. Taking back to feed the Vixen?

The Foxes had to share their food last night

22nd March 201510th October 2017Craig Rogers

We have a pair of Foxes that regularly visit the garden overnight, well why wouldn’t they, we do leave food out for them.

Some may think that we shouldn’t do this, but my way of looking at it is, what’s the difference between feeding the Foxes and feeding the Garden Birds?

We live quite rural too, so not really affecting anyone.

Last night, I set up my Bushnell Natureview Cam HD Max and it seems as the Foxes had to share their dinner!

The video contains captures from between 10pm and 4am. I noticed that only one of the Foxes came to feed last night, and as it’s the end of March, it could be that they now have young. The one shot of the Fox grabbing as much as it can leads me to believe that maybe it was taking food back to the Den. If they do have young, depending on how far away the Den is (I have no idea where it is) they may even bring the cubs to feed at around 8 weeks old.

The one strange thing I did notice is the birds are singing at 4am? It’s not Dawn until around 5:30am?

{Remember to watch in HD if possible}