Showing posts with label Foxes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foxes. Show all posts

Courtship in the dark


The strange fog decended after dark
 January is the month that foxes mate.
They are noisy about it too and the vixen will yowl , yap and scream at the dog for what seems like an eternity during their, shall we say....courtship!
Last night the guinea fowl started their high pitched screaming around nine pm, so I darted over to the field in a strange , heavy fog to check if everything was ok.
In the odd glow of the moon I could make out two foxes. The vixen was yapping away at the dog and both animals darted back and forth through the hen houses in a desperate courting race.
They obviously didn't notice  me, or indeed the little knots of birds hiding away within the hen houses, they just had eyes for each other, and I must admit that even though I hate the buggers, I thought that the ghostly spectacle of these two graceful animals galloping in the moonlight was rather moving.


At one point the vixen leaped on top of the runner duck house roof with a clatter causing a sudden burst of frightened quacking from the occupants, but the foxes weren't interested in a ducky meal and just carried on their playtime game of chase me.
Finally I had enough of their over familiarity and shouted out loudly whilst clapping my hands.
They stopped for a brief second , both turning in my direction,  then they were gone, slipping through the hedge into the dark like thieves in the night.
The field population let out a collective sigh of relief I am sure and even Albert padded over from his hiding place on top of the church wall to rub himself anxiously against my legs as I walked back to the cottage in the cold

Albert & Charlie

Albert didn't come home today which was a little worrying!, I rang the vets at noon and at two, but due to pressures of work he had his plaster cast fitted late so was not well enough to be allowed home today. The "nurse" however said that he was stable and had been asked for me!.......nutter!
I do miss the little chap
Janet gave me this balaclava the other day to help me with this bitter weather. I have been instantly transported to my primary school childhood when I walked to school wearing my hand knitted gloves and orange ever-so-tight balaclava!!! (I honestly looked like a small Japanese soldier!)
It has been lovely to wear but I must admit I do look like a sad pervert in it!
This Morning I let the ducks out first as I wanted to herd them down to the main hen enclosure without interruption by the inquisitive hens. As they waddled down the field two foxes burst into view not 25 yards from us. The ducks formed their defensive "huddle" immediately but the foxes ran on , zig-zagging across the field, through the neighbouring fields and then back again!!!!! They were oblivious to us watching them, as I suspect they were a "courting" couple, but the proximity of two "charlies" is terribly worrying (Charlie is a local nick name for a fox apparently!). I have spent the day on and off the field with trusty George in tow, the electric fencing has been re installed around the expensive buffs and we have seen no repeat visitation!....perhaps my balaclava scared them off?