Early hours Wednesday Dec 22nd :

A frosty wonderland greeted us as we entered the meadow leading to the cliffs. With no wind - which is the killer at low temperatures - it was surprisingly 'warm' even at minus 4 Celcius and the virtually full moon overhead made spotting easy. Four first season dog foxes closed on us and two of them skirmished aggressively - still competing for top slot in their group. 'Limper' - my crippled dog fox - had to be called and appeared after a few minutes though he was disturbed by two other regulars who had also heard the calls. For three nights both Mr Cruisedog and I have been observed by an unknown fox some quarter of a mile away high up in the woods. Its eyes can be seen reflecting from my LED headlight - and it never changes position - merely holding station and watching as my foxes come and go. It's always fascinating and quite exciting when a newcomer appears and we'll see what happens. Just under 2 hours out on the cliffs and it is startling how the time flits by when we are out each night. Mr Cruisedog never tires of our nightly adventures and waits patiently untethered even if I'm up to 50 yards away ...

MONDAY 01:55 hrs - just back from the Night Patrol

The foxes know that bad weather's approaching - they were out in force to stock up with chub and chicken scraps. Meadow Vixen appeared suddenly by my side while we were en route and was clearly not relishing the biting wind sweeping in from the sea. Normally very timid foxes were coming in close to ensure a meal - snatching a mouthful and fleeing into the night. My crippled dog fox Limper was given a special treat - Mr Cruisedog's lamb bone with plenty of fat still left on it (Mr Cruisedog is not allowed fat or oily chicken as it always makes him sick) .. Mr Cruisedog watching intently untethered as always and didn't make a fuss. Yes, they definitely knew about the snow coming in a few hours from now but hopefully it will thaw quickly with temps. of +4C forecast.

A flurry of long tailed tits on the bird table

Another mini epic out on the cliffs

Sustained drizzle throughout our Night Patrol on the cliff paths and Mr Cruisedog was pretty wet on getting back. Foxes were thin on the ground but Meadow Vixen made her second appearance within three nights, bounding towards me enthusiastically to be rewarded with freshly cooked and still warm chicken thighs. After feeding the cattle (once more) in the barn, I realized that one of the plastic food bags was missing and a by now bedraggled Mr Cruisedog and I (also bedraggled) had to retrace our footsteps to find it. A mile away, we found it - minus the food - as an alert fox must have found it soon after I dropped it ... never mind, the bag was the most important thing as any sort of plastic could cause an animal to choke on it. Temperature now a balmy +6C and much better for all of us ...

First cattle feed of the winter

Mr Cruisedog and I were out longer than usual with extra tasks to perform. Not many foxes abroad as after a protracted spell of rain earlier, many were loath to venture out. A couple of 'strange' foxes (strange as in aware of our presence and knowing the game but not prepared to approach, preferring to stay at some distance and move in when we depart) in evidence but the real news was the sighting of a single badger boar - the first badger seen in nearly 3 weeks ... though I knew they were visiting as the banana was disappearing soon after being put down - foxes (or rats for that matter) rarely take bananas. The cows have now been put under cover in the barn and needed feeding as they had eaten their way through the bales of hay put up against the outside rail and could no longer reach the rest. Mr Cruisedog sat patiently watching as I peeled off several large layers of compacted hay to feed the ever-hungry cows. As we wended our way back up the hill, the skies had begun to clear and the wet lane was starting to freeze as the temperature dropped away. Final score: 6 foxes, 1 badger and a low-flying barn owl sighted.

Keeping a count from Dec 1st

A few strange events taking place since November 12th when My Vixen disappeared and then November 25th Meadow Vixen was last fed in the top meadow. Now decided to log all sightings. Eight stations will be recorded. So far: Dec 1st (after midnight each time) 8 foxes 0 badgers. Dec 2nd 9F 0B. New fox sighted at last station (B) - seemed to know me and Mr Cruisedog and approached to take food. Cold but dry.

Night Patrol Wednesday am

A laborious effort walking in slow motion round the cliff paths and animal trails. Not a single badger sighted now for three consecutive nights - something's amiss. My Vixen and Meadow Vixen both absent for the second night running but not too bothered about them - both are in good health and probably seeking out potential dens. By the time we'd got back to our gate, I had had enough and it was such a relief to sit down.

Many missing

... the past few nights have seen many animals missing, though there are various reasons for this. November is the time for vixens finding dens for their offspring - a laborious task as at least two locations have to be found - if one is disturbed, the young can immediately be removed to safety.
Foxes and badgers also dislike any changes and there have been some in the valley of late. Two nights ago, I was so unwell, I left Mr Cruisedog at home for the Night Patrol as I wouldn't have had the strength to dry him off after. Still very weak but we both managed to get round okay last night.

A long Night Patrol

The clocks went back in the UK Sunday morning at 2 am and there's a problem for Mr Cruisedog and myself. The foxes and badgers know nothing of this and are extremely sensitive of timings each night ... we'll have to stagger the round - start a quarter of an hour later each night until the animals 'reset' their built-in watches ... confused.com? Of course you are ...

Return from the Night Patrol Friday 01:44 hrs CMT

Not too bad out there - quite mild, about 14C and breezy. Mr Cruisedog emerged from his below bunk bed bunker, Bertie, knowing that the Night Patrol always goes ahead, regardless of weather or illness ... It took longer than usual as Mr Cruisedog disappeared into the darkness on several sniffing errands and I waited patiently for him. Meadow Vixen was absent tonight but My Vixen was in her usual place after missing the previous night and wolfed down her food.
Got back inside and my back was drenched in sweat - will almost certainly feel worse later but we'll deal with it ..

Gratifying Night Patrol

Mr Cruisedog and I never know what we'll see each night we venture out onto the cliffs and seldom seen animal trails.
Tonight, for once, everything went like clockwork.
Meadow Vixen, recently recovered from a gunshot wound, waited for my call before emerging from the trees to take food by hand. As younger dog foxes closed in, she made threatening growls which stopped them in their tracks.
A mile away, My Vixen ran up in rather an agitated manner - a sure sign that badgers were close by. Mr Cruisedog confirmed this by bristling and leaning forward intently. My old friend the badger boar appeared out of the cliff top hedge and had to be placated with a hastily thrown banana. My Vixen took this lull in the 'action' to snatch her food and recede into the gloom.
The previous night, a sorry looking fox had appeared, with a badly swollen face and one closed eye - the victim of an attack by a larger and stronger fox. I hadn't been able to feed it as two other foxes had driven it off. However, tonight, things went much better for the injured fox. Instead of calling, Mr Cruisedog and I waited in silence for about twenty minutes and circling foxes lost interest and drifted away. All this time, the injured fox had been nearby, awaiting a chance to get food in safety. It moved out of the shadows and fed ravenously as we kept a lookout for other foxes.
All in all, a gratifying night ...

An extended Night Patrol

Mr Cruisedog and I had a long cliff top Night Patrol tonight. We hadn't seen My Vixen for four nights running and as the last time we had seen her she was limping, I was beginning to get worried for her well-being. Things were complicated when another old friend, the one-eyed badger boar approached while we were patiently waiting in one of My Vixen's usual spots. Mr Cruisedog doesn't mind foxes in the least but badgers are another matter - and he will lunge at them if they get too close. The old boar was hungry and kept getting closer, holding his head high and sniffing furiously (badgers have poor vision at the best of times and only having one eye wouldn't help) and it was difficult holding onto Mr Cruisedog. Eventually, after placating the boar with a piece of chicken and a digestive biscuit, he moved off and at that point, to my great relief, My Vixen ran up to us. No longer limping, she gobbled down her chicken and followed us for a few hundred yards as we continued on our rounds. With so much going on, time lost its meaning and I was surprised that we had been out for two hours.

My Vixen

... just got back from our Night Patrol and can report that My Vixen looks in remarkable condition considering the attack of sarcoptic mange which ravaged her coat last winter/spring. Her coat and tail have regrown completely and she is building up her fat reserves for the rapidly approaching winter. Also, Meadow Vixen seems to be fine after sustaining a very nasty wound to her flank a couple of weeks ago. There was a gaping hole in her side which looked suspiciously like a bullet wound and there was a real fear of infection getting in. However, with the much-appreciated aid from Derbyshire Fox Rescue, the wound has healed over and she took food from me a couple of nights ago (only appears two or three times a week). All in all, good news all round.

A bit of excitement tonight

... in the top meadow as I mistook a young dog fox for my Meadow Vixen and held out a piece of chicken, assuming that if it wasn't her, the animal would shy away ... but on this occasion, the young fox had a rush of blood and lunged forward to literally snap his jaws on the chicken. His teeth caught two of my fingers and I feared that he had broken the skin, but on inspection, I was ok. Most unfortunately, the old black Sanyo cam failed yet again and is now becoming most unreliable and will have to be replaced.
Earlier in the evening, I did manage to get a tiny bit of footage of the 'Ghost Litter' which I'll post next.

MEADOW VIXEN AND MY VIXEN

... both vixens showed up and the former took another antibiotic tablet. My Vixen was much more relaxed and took food gently and waited while I saw to the badgers.

Badgers and discipline do not go together and I'm having more and more trouble with them chasing the foxes to try and steal their food. If you run after a badger, they'll scuttle away but come back as soon as your back is turned whereas if you were to chase a fox, they'd disappear never to return ...

Chest now very sore and hopeful that tomorrow will finally see some improvement ...

The return of Meadow Vixen

A most gratifying and worthwhile cliff patrol with Mr Cruisedog and just reward for going out not feeling that good. Three nights ago, Meadow Vixen appeared with a gaping hole in her side - which looked suspiciously like a gunshot wound. There was little blood and she could run without limping. I immediately contacted Derbyshire Fox Rescue who sent me (by return post) antibiotics to tender in case of infection.
After being missing for three nights, she appeared tonight and the wound appears clean and on the mend.
My Vixen (much older animal) was also back after appearing very frightened and though still a little spooked, took food.

Breathing now quite laboured walking uphill and will see my doctor later today for antibiotics of my own for what is almost certainly a chest infection.

A most welcome return of My Vixen

... missing for some time, My Vixen appeared tonight to take food but was very nervous. Mr Cruisedog showed his usual discipline when a badger scuttled past him.

TONIGHT'S PROJECT UPDATE 00:05 Sunday 29 Aug

The Ghost litter turned up - but without adults so they never got within range of the static cam positioned in the hedge - darting in and snatching food thrown to them and off in a flash ... Rome wasn't .... though

Saturday Aug 28 - 21:00 hrs CMT
I'm going to try and get footage of the elusive 'Ghost Litter' later on this evening. A regular vixen comes to feed in my garden high up above the bungalow. She has a litter of about four - all of which are very light coloured like their mother. They are all small and I suspect arrived later than usual because of the sarcoptic mange outbreak last winter.

They rely heavily on their mother and one or two 'aunties' as if they approached other larger, stronger foxes, they would be attacked.

I'll set up the infrared cam and see if I can get a few shots of them - IF they appear, that is ...

A strange night

Neither Meadow Vixen - missing now for three nights - nor My Vixen - very rare as she's only missed three nights since early June ... showed up and the top meadow was eerily devoid of life.

There are several fox 'territories' within the environs of Maidencombe - some as small as a quarter mile apart, but there's a communication network much like our own telephone or internet system that joins all territories up. So if the 'word' goes out, all foxes (and sometimes badgers, who also pick up on the telegraph system) will disappear - where, even I or Mr Cruisedog know not ... I may fathom it out eventually, as I've only had experience of foxes and badgers for about 35 years ...

Running a slight temperature at present and retiring early as not 100 per cent ...

NOT TOO BAD

... out on the cliffs tonight - quite heavy drizzle but mild with light winds. Meadow Vixen appeared after a three night absence and My Vixen was waiting at her usual location ... her fur is growing back really well now and she should be able to withstand another winter now. Both vixens took food gently without snatching - a sign that they were unstressed with all around them. The old badger boar and his entourage of sows ambled up to their usual place and grazed contentedly on peanuts, digestive biscuits and bananas. All in all, a satisfying night for all of us ...

The cat and the pheasant

The pheasant family is back, but where's dear old Dad?

A young fox stops to stare

... Meadow Vixen takes food by hand and then a young fox looks over - trying to understand this strange human ...

PIGEON V MAGPIE V PHEASANT

... drama at Cruisedog Towers as a humble pigeon takes on all-comers for the rights to the seed tray ...

Meadow Vixen slow motion clip - early hours Mon August 16

... Meadow Vixen sees off a competitor for food in decisive fashion ... clip slowed down X2 to capture the charge

Meadow Vixen taking food

... in the early hours of Friday August 13th ... this is probably a first year breeding vixen and in excellent condition ...

The cubs are running

... Just got back after an hour and a half doing our rounds. The new generation of fox cubs are everywhere now and all are healthy. It truly is an amazing sight seeing them streaking across the fields ... competing with each other and of course establishing the all-important pecking order.

All badgers are healthy as well though the old badger boar wasn't out tonight, leaving the young sows to guzzle down the peanuts at their leisure.

Close and humid out and both Mr Cruisedog and I sense moisture in the air ... a band of showers moving in from the south west later.

I've got some vid clips to post a bit later in the week and I think I've caught the young foxes on film ... and of course, the first footage of Meadow Vixen taking food by hand ...

Meadow Vixen

'Meadow Vixen' approaches ...

... it's taken time and patience and tonight I finally got a vid clip of her taking food from my hand ... I've named her 'Meadow Vixen' as opposed to 'My Vixen' - the other older vixen which has been taking food by hand for a long time now. 'Meadow Vixen' has recovered very well from the Sarcoptic Mange after I treated her for over a month with medication from Derbyshire Fox Rescue ... this is probably her first breeding season and she doesn't appear to be taking food to her cubs whereas 'My Vixen' is taking most of her food to her two cubs ... as you can see, she is a very pretty vixen indeed ...

Saturday, 10 July 2010

'My Vixen' taking food ...

... a few minutes later in a different location, 'My Vixen' appears to take food by hand ...

Now two vixens taking food by hand

For the past week a coastal vixen has been approaching to take food from my hand. She has gradually gained confidence the past few months and now she's had her batch of cubs she's come closer and closer and 9 days ago she snatched a piece of meat off me. She's only missed one night from the past 9 days (raining and foxes dislike the wet like cats) and now trots alongsideme as I go to the feeding point. She now takes the food more gently and last night her two cubs darted up to her to try to take the food, but she didn't let them as they now look big enough to catch their own. Until a better name suggests itself, I'll refer to her as 'Meadow Vixen' as opposed to my other vixen 'My Vixen' who I've know for some time now.

More Maidencombe magic ..

... on the cliffs tonight as Mr Cruisedog and I meandered ... A rare occurrence as a usually cautious coastal vixen approached and actually took food from my hand - well, nearly took my fingers as well with a very decisive snap of her powerful jaws. The cubs then pranced around and I counted five of them along with two attendant vixens. They all looked healthy and contented with life. Shining my head torch around as we walked down the hill to the cliffs, I picked out two pairs of eyes - one following us and another on top of a roof ... ! Closer inspection identified a cat on the (tin?) roof and the fox following us was an inquisitive fox watching our progress. High up in the woods above Cruisedog Towers, a lone fox sat observing us but it was an 'outsider' who would have been chased away if any of the local 'owners' of the patch had seen it. I threw it the last piece of chicken I had and it ran off in alarm, thinking I was aiming a missile at it. However, Mr Cruisedog and I waited in the darkness down our path and sure enough, after a few minutes, the fox returned and found the food and with it in his mouth, stared down at us before loping away. As I always say - every night a different adventure for me and Mr Cruisedog ...

June 20th - A red-letter 'night'

Just after a week ago, the new batch of fox cubs presented themselves in the top meadow - being taught how to hunt by mothers and aunties.

At the conclusion of our nightly cliff walk patrol, Mr Cruisedog and I encountered our favourite, 'My Vixen' who had been afflicted with Sarcoptic Mange last winter but was slowly recovering. She rushed up and gobbled down 3 chicken thighs before dashing off with some food in her mouth. I had been wondering for a few weeks whether she was caching it or feeding cubs. Well, I got my answer tonight as suddenly, two small shadows approached and she let them take the food off her. Instead of retreating, both cubs bounded past us with small pieces of food in their mouths. Both were healthy and had no signs of mange. A very rewarding night indeed.

Fascinating fifteen minutes ...

... spent after getting back from our clifftop jaunt in the wee hours of June 16th. Mr Cruisedog had finished most of the meat off his lamb bone but I couldn't give him the bone to gnaw on as it was definitely 'on the turn', so I walked up to my gate and called ... and sure enough, one of my regulars appeared from across the road. I threw the 14 inch bone into the field by the lane lamp and waited. The vixen approached the large lamb bone and then ... jumped in the air with alarm! She had never seen anything like this before and treated it as though it was alive and kicking! It was highly entertaining, watching her circle the bone , sniff cautiously and jump back. Eventually, she made a grab for it and tossed it in the air (presumably to see if it was really alive and dangerous) ... seeing all was well, she snatched it and fled into the darkness ... I returned down the path and met a very disappointed looking Mr Cruisedog, who knew what I had done with his precious bone ...

Friday night's footage to follow ...

Got a 'hissing Sid' vid clip!

Older post

A VERY rare moment ...

... a young vixen about to take food from my hand ... I do have film footage taken a few years back of another vixen taking food by hand, but that was very different. I had fed the cub for about 18 months before she would trust me. This particular vixen (wild dog foxes will hardly ever approach humans) I have known for about a month! I noticed her following us (Cruisedog and I on nightly cliff walk, early hours) and put some food down which she took a few minutes after we left (observed upwind a hundred yards away). Since then, she has become a 'regular' and has started bringing a companion (unknown sex) with her who stands some way off. The past few nights, she has become more and more confident and has even sniffed noses with a tethered Cruisedog! She snatched a piece of food from my hand the previous night, but I thought at the time she had made an error, thinking I had dropped it. Luckily, I had the camcorder turned on this time and the above photo is a still taken from a vid clip. Most of you will have heard of or read reports of urban foxes (Bristol foxes are well-documented) taking food by hand, but it is extraordinarily rare for a rural fox to do this - especially one that is not pregnant, injured or old.

Posted by MR CRUISEDOG at 5/21/2009 12:36:00 AM 0 comments

Bold and beautiful ... video (Thursday, 21 May 2009)

A REMARKABLE VID CLIP - RURAL FOX TAKING FOOD ... VIDEO Thursday, 21 May 2009

See also:'Wild fox eating out of my hand' Youtube. The difference here is that this vixen is absolutely wild and practically takes my hand off ... and would not go near - let alone enter any human habitation to take food. However, watch both videos and make up your own minds which vixen is as wild as 'old Harry' ...

Mr Cruisedog (your esteemed editor) ...

Wednesday, 27 May 2009

Mr Cruisedog (your esteemed editor) ...

... on the cliffs between Maidencombe and Labrador Bay ...

Tuesday, 26 May 2009

A taxing early hours ...

Foxes are easily spooked, as I found out tonight. The previous night I had committed the cardinal sin of returning after encountering 'Snatcher' - my newly acquired vixen of merely a month's acquaintance. Cruisedog and I had had to return to retrieve a bag with plastic wrappings which any animal could easily have swallowed and choked upon. To Snatcher, our sudden reappearance must have meant one thing - danger and she had fled along with her companion. Twenty four hours later, Cruisedog and I found emptiness where for a month Snatcher had waited as regular as clockwork. Eventually, after nearly an hour, she ventured cautiously forward, but would not come to take food from me. It's not back to square one, but it'll probably take a week or two before she regains confidence. However, after nearly forty years of animal 'watching', the one thing I have learnt is patience.

Monday, 25 May 2009

Just as I thought ...

... the tripod was a non-starter. Its presence made both foxes very nervous, so I ditched it in the hedge and tried to film holding the cam sideways (as above) ... with mixed results.

Sunday, 24 May 2009

Probably won't work but ...

I'm just about to set off to film 'Snatcher' with a cam on a tripod as filming one-handed while feeding with the other hand is proving tricky. She may well take exception to the apparatus, but it's worth a try. We'll know either way in about two hours time ...

'Snatcher' is a real handful ...

... proper planning prevents poor performance ... got to Snatcher's location but was having trouble with the camcorder which needed adjusting. After only about 10 seconds waiting, Snatcher grew impatient and made a grab for Cruisedog's lead (while he was tethered by it!) ... then as soon as I commenced filming, the cam message came on-screen: 'Card full' ... Drat! So I had to laboriously delete a few clips to make room. This further delay was too much for 'Snatcher' who ran forward and snapped her teeth firmly on my right trainer! It's proving to be quite tricky filming with one hand and feeding with the other. Tomorrow I'll try and set up the camcorder on the tripod and film remotely as this is a most unusual animal ...

Friday, 22 May 2009

Razor-sharp teeth on my new friend ...

... a most remarkable animal ...

Posted by MR CRUISEDOG at 5/22/2009 11:58:00 PM 0 comments

Fox wire ... video

Fox wire 2 ... video (Saturday, 20 June 2009)

Foxes are very much creatures of habit ...

Friday, 3 July 2009

Foxes are very much creatures of habit ...

... I reflected on my nightly rounds. In good lighting conditions, (moon or lane lighting) individual foxes can be identified, but out on the cliffs and dark with no moon it's a different story. They still can be identified, however, by their position and behaviour. Any fox or badger which appears in a different spot and will not approach is likely to be a newcomer and it will observe closely the movements of 'my' animals and more likely than not, join my merry crew eventually. A special favourite of mine is a young vixen who is looking after her first litter and rather than get mixed up in the fighting and squabbling at a spot where several foxes converge, she waits for Cruisedog and I to complete our circular route (up to an hour) and emerges from the shadows for her treat. A few weeks ago, she would gather all I threw to her in her mouth and slink off to take it back to her cubs. Now the two surviving cubs are bigger, they now wait in the shadows a few feet away and dash forward to snatch the thrown food immediately from the mother, who for the time being, always gives it up. Another little country tale for all you city dwellers out there ...

Sunday, 28 June 2009

Badgers seldom look back ...

... when retreating, whereas foxes usually do. As Michael Caine said: 'Not many people know that' ... Advancing down the top meadow in the high grass, two distinct furrows of parting grass were observed going off in diagonal directions from me. With the LED's on my head torch, I observed a pair of greenish yellow eyes pause to look back while nothing was seen of the other departee. Stooping over to deposit some scraps, I became aware of a badger to my right and a vixen to my left. Both were intently staring past me at each other, ready to advance when I left. And yes, the pair of eyes I saw looking back were the vixen and the badger was the other, who didn't. Did you like that?

Saturday, 27 June 2009

No luck with fox filming ...

... the whole schedule thrown out with the no show of my vixen. At just after midnight, I started the round to find only her cub of about 3 months waiting in the lane. It was her first 'solo' appearance without her mother and she approached to within a few feet to feed. On my second pass a half hour later, the mother appeared and was very nervous, snatching food and running away each time. Something must have happened for her to miss her usual slot but she appeared unhurt. I didn't attempt to film the young female by herself and will wait until tomorrow when hopefully, all will be back to 'normal'. All other points on the 2 mile circuit are usually unsuitable for filming as to turn on any light will spook all in the vicinity ...

Friday, 26 June 2009

More fox footage to follow ...

... after the midnight hour ... these are rural foxes, NOT urban, streetwise, human-aware foxes ... they know only one human and one Cruisedog ...

Thursday, 25 June 2009

The grass is chest high ...

... in the top meadow and a chance encounter with a young badger boar making its way in the wide world, certainly enlivened proceedings on my nightly rounds with the Cruisedog. Wading through the grass safari (so good) style, I heard a noisy rustling in front of me which could only be a badger (they're big and mean enough not to care about noise) and sure enough, a black and white striped snout emerged sniffing furiously ... standing still, I waited for the inspection to finish - a sudden movement can make a badger charge straight at you - not pleasant ... Anyway, this particular badger knew of me (when you take the same route nightly, scores of eyes follow you) and backed slowly away - to await my offerings. Further along the cliffs, a vixen approached for her two chicken scraps which she collects up and takes away for her cub or cubs - now about 3 - 4 months old but still dependent on her for food. A magical moment as the cub, in its excitement, rushed from cover to drag the chicken from the mouth of the mother and then rushed away with its prize. Just two moments from the nightly walk - every night is different, every night rewarding and informative ...

Posted by MR CRUISEDOG at 6/25/2009 12:49:00 AM 0 comments

Screams of foxes fighting ... video

Clip taken early hours Sunday July 5th ... the screams are down to intruder foxes being 'deterred' by territory owners.

Less than 5 months old ...

Thursday, 23 July 2009

Less than 5 months old ...

... this is 'Jackal' - probably a female (dog foxes rarely as confident as vixens with human contact) and she has appeared on my nightly rounds recently. She's very quickly got the hang of the 'game' and approaches fearlessly. Almost certainly, she would have been observing me from cover for three or four weeks as her mother collected food for her ... A truly magnificent animal with no sores on her back which are the trademark of lesser foxes which are pursued and bitten by the dominant foxes.

Friday, 24 July 2009

The rounds commence with My Vixen (never named) ...

The rounds continue ... (Friday, 24 July 2009)

Domain of the coastal foxes (Friday, 24 July 2009)

A strange sighting ...

Saturday, 8 August 2009

A strange sighting ...

Walking back up the hill with the Cruisedog at dusk, a strange sighting took place. Usually I take a camcorder with me most excursions - but unfortunately not this time. As we rounded the bend, a cock pheasant darted out of the hedge and on seeing us approach, stopped transfixed. Nothing strange about a cock pheasant you might think - but this one was. It was jet black with a white neck and bright red and black tail feathers and a little smaller than the 'usual' pheasant. I stopped dead and Cruisedog immediately sat and we both stared at the apparition. After a few seconds, it turned and ran - road-runner style up the lane and disappeared through a hole in the hedge. What with the strange sighting of the little white bird recently (see above vid clip) and now this bizarre sighting, I'm beginning to think that there's been a mass escape from an aviary somewhere ...

Thursday, 6 August 2009

Just off on our nightly rounds ...

... of the cliffs and byways of Maidencombe ... then the Cruisedog and I'll be back for more of 'It's all done in the best possible taste' ...

Wednesday, 5 August 2009

My beloved Maidencombe (on sea) ...

Fifty years a resident - my green and (mainly) unspoilt kingdom ...

The co-editor (Mr Cruisedog to you lot)

Saturday, 1 August 2009

Albino bullfinch?

For some time now, dear old mum has been telling me that there's an albino bullfinch visiting one of our birdtables. I wasn't convinced until this morning I got a glimpse of it and managed to get a very short vid clip before it saw me and flew off. I'll post the clip shortly. Fascinating eh?

Posted by MR CRUISEDOG at 8/01/2009 01:42:00 PM 0 comments

Early hours Sunday August 9th

A particular favourite of mine, gradually gaining confidence ...

Older posts

Monday, 7 September 2009

Jackal makes sure it is me ...

... before approaching ...

Believe me, that is not on zoom ...

That smells good ...

Opens very wide ...

Friday, 4 September 2009

My Vixen brings her cub along ...

tonight at CRUISEDOG TOWERS ... vid clip to follow ...

Thursday, 3 September 2009

A gratifying night's video shoot ...

I never go out each night on my 'rounds' with any expectations of getting good footage of animals - most times I don't take the cam at all. Tonight with virtually a full moon, I took the cam along and was rewarded with some great clips. Using a different light setting and reducing the lux to 2, the quality was somewhat reduced but the clip stayed in focus throughout. The above extrapolated still shows 'Jackal' approaching to take a piece of chicken from my hand. The vid clip is magical and I'll get it compressed to AVI and posted later today as it's now 02:50 and I'm about to retire for the night. Also got footage of My Vixen outside the bungalow and the coastal fox to process. A good night's work.

Monday, 31 August 2009

CLASSIC EX HEADER PICS: 'Snatcher' ...

... a very special fox - a rural fox which took food from my hand after only 5 days ... his eyes are focused on a piece of chicken held in my right hand while this still is extrapolated from the vid clip on my cam held in my left hand. Illumination is from an LED head torch. A fluke shot as I'm no photographer. The extraordinary vid clip will be posted again soon - there's nothing like it anywhere on the internet ...

Friday, 28 August 2009

A batty bat, return of the Jackal and an owl swoops ...

Fun and games at CRUISEDOG TOWERS tonight ... had to duck when a bat dive-bombed the light from my head torch as I was feeding My Vixen just outside the back door. Couldn't identify it but it was a pretty large one and scared the hell out of me. Very relieved to see 'Jackal' half way through our cliff rounds. He had been missing for two nights in a row and I was getting uneasy. He was very skittish at first - the gusting wind not helping - but eventually he approached to take food from my hand. Last chore of the night (usually about 01:30) is to put some grain and seed on the bird tables (2) - again lighting the way via my head torch. A sudden 'whooshing' noise and a flash of white swept by me - literally only a few inches from my face. It was our local Barn Owl, who had been looking for rodents who grub around for dropped seed from the table. By the time I reached the kitchen I had developed a rather nervous twitch ...

Saturday, 22 August 2009

Where the deer and the antelopes play ...

Well, badgers and foxes together, actually. Although the Cruisedog and I follow more or less the same routine every night - whatever the weather - the wildlife we encounter regularly change theirs. However, for the past few nights there is one location - our last port of call - where both badgers and foxes await, separated by a few feet. Originally a badger point, a roaming and inquisitive fox watched the feed from some way off and then 'gatecrashed' the party the next night, much to the annoyance of the badger regulars. He liked the arrangement so much, he brought his buddies with him a few nights later and now we have a similar plot to that of West Side Story (1961) and the two rival NY gangs - the Sharks and the Jets. Nerve-wracking at times as the badger boar sometimes charges and scatters the foxes when he thinks they're after his banana (badgers love bananas, by the way) ... as I keep saying, every night a different adventure for us ...

Tuesday, 11 August 2009

Just off on our coast walk ...

... in case you didn't know by now, the Cruisedog and I have a nightly round where we walk a circuit observing all manner of wildlife - badgers, foxes, owls and anything else abroad in the early hours when most folk have retired for the night and on occasions we get some camcorder footage (see side panel or type in fox or badger in the search box on the left) .... Every night is different, every night an adventure for both of us. We'll get some more pics posted when we return in an hour or so ... seldom get any shuteye until 4 am ... a dedicated nightbird ...

Posted by MR CRUISEDOG at 8/11/2009 12:05:00 AM 0 comments

A magical night on the cliffs ...

Monday, 7 September 2009

A magical night on the cliffs ...

... after last night's sparse turnout. The folks across the way had a party until 2:30 am with loud rock music which echoed across the valley and scared off most of our usual 'customers'. Jackal did dash out to grab some food before scuttling away but at most of our rendezvous points there was nothing to be seen. However, it was business as usual with a vengeance 24 hours later with four foxes rushing down the lane to greet us, spearheaded by the 'Leader of the Pack' - Jackal. Most unusually, Jackal approached and took food from my hand in the lane before trotting behind Cruisedog and I to the top of the hill - the usual feeding point. It was a similar story out on the cliffs where another group of foxes stood off some way observing, before closing fast on our departure. At the last rendezvous, a minor fracas broke out when a pair of badgers took grave exception to Barnie (always appears from behind a barn) going too close to their banana and peanuts. Finally, on walking up to the back door, My Vixen's cub put in a belated appearance and waited while I got some of our chicken from the fridge. Over twenty animals observed on the rounds - just think, if you were walking around the exact route we took, you would have been very fortunate to have seen one or two ...

Autumn looms in Maidencombe ...

Friday, 11 September 2009

Autumn looms in Maidencombe ...

A gusty night had brought the hazelnuts down and I spent a good ten minutes stuffing my pockets as Cruisedog looked on. We had earlier been delayed for a similar interval by a white van man loitering by the roadside at our first 'rendezvous' point - a pair of foxes watching suspiciously in the hedgerow. Obviously spooked by this, the foxes decided it was a safer bet to follow us to the next spot out on the cliffs. This was not appreciated by the usual 'customers' there and much squabbling and screaming ensued. The wind had increased by the time we belatedly made our last stopoff and there appeared to be no takers - all that could be heard was the corrugated iron on the old barn rattling eerily. However, after calling a few times, a badger and two foxes appeared. All animals are healthy and well-prepared for the coming winter, here in Maidencombe-on-Sea ...

Confrontation ... badger and fox (Sunday, 20 September 2009)

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Sunday, 20 September 2009

Badgers arrive mob-handed

There is a sort of routine that can be expected each night the Cruisedog and I set off for our nightly rounds of Maidencombe. However, nothing is guaranteed and tonight was a graphic demonstration of the uncertainty of wild animal behaviour. My two vixens failed to appear outside my back door, despite my calling for a quarter of an hour. At our first rendezvous, two shy foxes waited whilst I called for Jackal who had failed to put in an appearance the previous night. Suddenly, he loomed out of the darkness - ravenous. On the cliffs proper, a pair of foxes lay crouched down in the long grass some way off - the usual 'approacher' missing. The biggest surprise occurred at the final port of call adjacent to the beach. A veritable phalanx of four badgers advanced purposefully towards us, causing the resident dominant fox, Barnie, some alarm. I managed to get off a quick vid clip of the initial confrontation (see following post) but the revelation of the night came when I suddenly realised that Barnie was actually 'Snatcher' (a remarkable animal who had taken food by hand after only a week - but had disappeared after I had scared him by running back to retrieve a plastic bag) ... a surprising night, but that's how it is and every night you see something different ... and I've been doing it for over thirty years ...

Thursday, 24 September 2009

I had to be very still, kneeling down with the badger so close to me - they can be very unpredictable if disturbed by a sudden movement and are liable to charge straight at you ... a very unnerving experience which has happened to me twice in the past.

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Saturday, 26 September 2009

A mother's devotion ...

was seen on the cliffs tonight. The February batch of cubs are now fully grown at around seven months now and are all in fine condition for the coming winter. However, the vixen will not give up tending for her offspring and if they are slow at learning hunting or foraging skills, she will still take food to them. For a few nights now, I have had a vixen appear in the same place where no other animals are evident and wait for me to throw food. She then sits by it and waits and about twenty yards away, the Cruisedog and I also wait. She constantly looks around until her 'cub' dashes out - usually with a scream to give it courage - to snatch the food and back away, fearsome that another fox will appear. The cub is very small and extremely thin and it is with great satisfaction we return home knowing that it has at least had a good feed for one night. It is widely believed that once the cubs are weaned, the parents will take them hunting for a few weeks to learn skills and then leave them ... this is far from the case and the vixen is a particularly caring parent ...

Early hours June 11th and My Vixen is in a hurry - she wants her food before the badgers arrive and I'm not dispensing the grub fast enough, so she rushes forward and accidentally bites my elbow ... as I remark in the clip, it's fortunate I'm wearing quite a thick jacket ...