So there we were, about 19:15 this evening, eating out chicken and chips.
I spotted a dark russet-y shape appear way down the garden and disappear behind the philadelphus bush.
“Good evening, Reynard.”
A few minutes later it strolled across the lawn, to the upper lawn were we put out food. Sadly the plate there was empty – so we’ll just mark it with a dose of pee.
It wandered back down the path, stopping for a while to sit and look, and have a good scratch. I thought it had then disappeared beyond the philadelphus again.
At this point the white front of Boy Cat appeared on the path down by the pond. And waited.
He crept a couple of feet closer. And waited.
Is fox still trotting around down by the pond? It’s too shady to see, especially from the dining room.
Boy Cat creeps forward another couple of feet. And waits. Looking nervously to his left. Who’s he watching. Presumably another of the neighbourhood intruder cats.
He creeps forward again. And again. Still watching his left flank. And again.
Finally having made it some way past the silver birch he breaks into a slow trot. And he’s now clearly past the danger and on a home run.
Some minutes later, when I come upstairs and look out of the study window, the scenario becomes clear. Fox has not gone away but is curled up in the long grass almost in front of where the old apple tree was. This was about 19:45.
Grab camera. Oh bugger that’s an awful place to try to get a decent shot. Big, long focus lens, on full zoom, and a wide open bathroom window provide a handful of reasonable shots.
Fox snuggled down for a doze. It’s now 20:50 (as I type) and fox has just woken up having had a good hour’s doze; had a mighty stretch; a scratch and is generally attending to regular maintenance. Another big stretch and a shake. Rinse and repeat.
And at 21:00, off we trot.
Unfortunately the animal looks a bit mangey, but there’s nothing one can really do.
I got a good shot of a fox on the trail camera yesterday, but this is a different individual.
Nice that fox feels comfortable here (although the cats wouldn’t be too pleased); and something which probably wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t left the grass grow.