Foxes are easily spooked ...

... and not a single fox seen outside my house as we started off on our rounds ... a very unusual occurrence and it was the same story at the first 'check' as after waiting and calling for a few minutes, a single fox appeared, looking around constantly. Something - or someone - had clearly upset the usual 'rhythm' of the night. Into the meadow and normality was resumed, three foxes lying in wait, spread out in a semi circle from the feeding point. A fourth fox was observed running across the field from way off as I retreated.

At the final port of call, two foxes were waiting, completely unperturbed, so whatever the problem, it was only in the western quadrant of the village. Returning outside my gate, I quickly scanned the woods above me with my head lamp on full power and made out a fox's eyes looking down from about 50 metres away. Despite calling, the fox stayed put. Not a single badger spotted either, in the course of the round. A fairly still night with very little light from a fast waning crescent moon ... more heavy rain and high winds forecast for tomorrow ...