Last of the fox's C&C

Muineach

Well the time had to come, Foxy McGraw has finally left the nest, I haven't seen him up close for over 2 weeks and only saw him twice long distance. Seemingly it's natural, they go through a phase where they trust everyone, then the get paranoid and hide from everything, he still eats the food I leave out though.

Anyway these are some of the last up close shot's, ah well I had to cut the apron strings at some stage, now he's off looking for a hot vixen
For more on fox behavior try this site.

First up 2 "eye" photo's, taken at full res when he got nice and close, if you follow the link to flickr and view the "large" size you get to see what my back garden is like on the reflections of his eye. If you don't get an "All Sizes" button add me as a contact and I'll let you view them full size.
BTW they are the real reflections, no photoshop trickery involved

1) It's all in the eye




2) Eye of the beholder




3) Cheeky look




4) Sleeping beauty





5) I'm bored




And of course I had to add in one of these type of photo's
6) Dental checkup

rymus

ah what a shame. still though, you've gotten some amazing photos from what time you had with your pet fox. Here's hoping the bugger comes back to you for another modelling session

bovril

Fantastic set of shots. Maybe he might come back with his youn'uns!

Eirebear

If he knows the place is safe and has ready to eat food available...hell always be around.
great stuff

Muineach

hopefully so, i've basically mapped out about 40 acres around my house where the foxe's are, following their tracks, crossing points of streams etc., and I think I've found a den (or potential) or two.

I was out last night 11pm (give your eye's 20 minutes to adjust), just out having a smoke and I could hear them in the fields, moving around, quite spooky if your not used to it, but I heard 2 males "fighting", of course it was over a 8 foot hedge about 20 foot away from me, real deep growls from them, then running through the rushes, then more growl's then a yelp and it was over.

Males are territorial so he must be reaching that stage where the adults will feck him out. BTW vixens are only "receptive" 3 days a year around January/Feburary.

gerky

Great stuff Muineach,They are photos to be very proud of.

Ruu_Old

Love the photos, nice story.

-Cerberus-

Can you give me the number of his dentist, nice shot no. 6

TelePaul

What lens were they taken with?

Muineach

I used a Canon EF 75-300mm IS USM len, it's much better than my old Sigma 70-300mm, but I would recommend the Sigma lens as a first "telephoto" lens due to cost vs. quality

Carrigman

Some great shots there of an animal that is normally observed in the distance running away in the opposite direction.

Muineach

I went out for a walk today, trying to "find" the dens, and well I found them.
Tough to get to them all right but I was roughly right, of course I was playing round with the camera, I think the first shot will be great for when they have cub's , i was in a trench so just the camera and the top of my head were popping up. The second one was about 20 foot from the other.

See anything is possible if your bored enough

m_stan

great shots as always. amazing story. what beautiful animals they are.

Cabaal

Very nice shots, here's looking forward to the cubs

5uspect

Sorry, I missed this thread.
All I can say is Wow! those shot are just amazing.
No 3 is an absolute classic, great capture.

Thanks for posting all these fox pictures, I've really enjoyed them.

ThOnda

I am sorry, but I have to post this link :-)

countryjimbo

Fantastic pictures, having grown up on a farm I'm not particulary fond of foxes as each visit from one tended to mean another lamb or chicken less! However I can really appreciate these pictures. Foxes are a very weary animal and are very difficult to get close to, you have done well.