I know I keep banging on about all the wildlife around here – eagles, voles, genets, chameleons and the like – you know, the sort of stuff that makes Bilby want to pack her sandpit and come over to Portugal, but this one is a bit special.
I was out very early the other morning to clean the pool before the sun was up and temperatures rose too high. So there I was, minding my own business, hoovering away and humming distractedly to myself when I suddenly had the feeling of being watched. I turned and there it was.
Senhor Raposo, or perhaps Senhora Raposa – anyway, a juvenile fox, this year’s litter to be sure. Back in February/March I saw Mum trotting across the front garden in torrential rain with a rat in her mouth. Only the need to feed cubs would have had ber out in such foul weather and in daylight. Anyway, the cub was obviously quite inexperienced and showed no fear whatsoever. It just sat there and watched.
I carried on with my chores, regretting I did not have access to my camera, but the fox remained. I had a “what the hell” moment and went inside to fetch the old ‘point and press’. These are the results. Brer Fox came within a metre of the back door and spent some time exploring the patio, pool and the barbie dining table. Little swine even tried to pinch the pool net at one point and I was only a couple of metres away.
Eventually the young fox became bored and jumped out over the terrace ballustrades onto the field. At this point Das Fürballen put in an appearance, displaying every ounce of their feral Portuguese street-cat heritage. They were about three times their normal size, so it seemed, with every hair out at right-angles, bodies arched and turned towards the intruder, working as a team.
The fox took discretion as being better than valour at this point and disappeared. It returned the following day, but I haven’t seen it since. I do hope all is well.
OZ
Boadicea's Chariot 
Ah, they are just wonderful pictures, Oz.
Bilby is packing as I type. 🙂
Lovely photos!
Just adorable, OZ! Hasn’t quite grown into his/her paws.
Can we do a hostage-style exchange at the Airport?
In similar vein (but sorry, no pics) when we had a thunder storm on Monday evening. I noticed a big, old hare grazing in the field about 50 yards from our windows. He was as big as an average family dog. As the flashes grew in frequency and thunder claps cmae closer, he simply squatted there and continued his meal, ears up, then down, but otherwised unmoved. When the storm abated, he hopped slowly into the thicket, having spent a couple of hours out in the driving rain.
Mornin’ all. The fox was back earlier today taking a drink from the pool.
Bilby – A hostage exchange would be fine in principle, but seeing as how dear Eff is already enjoying the ambience of The Cave I am somewhat disturbed as to what else could possibly be on offer from the Henley mafia. 🙂
OZ
An experience to be treasured, Oz – beautiful!
Terrific pictures Oz.
How suspicious you are, OZ. I thought you would have jumped at the chance of putting dear Eff on a plane to, say, Australia and taking receipt of a State of the Art Marsupial Sand Pit, complete with Sand from the Great Sandy Desert, a tasteful scattering of Spinifex, assembly instructions and no strings attached.
🙂
good photos, but around here they are a serious pest. the garden is caked in fox poo, the foxes are generally not healthy, and there too many of them.
Its a FOX, it is vermin!
Cheers, Zen and Brandwood (may I call you that?)
Bilby – I am sure a State of the Art Marsupial Sand Pit with all the bells and whistles would be most useful here, but I’ve found dear Eff is rather good at Creative Writing spells. This more than offsets the other ‘issues’ with which you will be so familiar, so I might ask her to hang around for a while.
Rick – No fox poo here, but there again it’s a big hillside with lots of room. And not too many foxes. This is the first ‘family’ I have actually seen since coming to Portugal and then only Mum and this cub.
FEEG – Shame on you! He/she is a cousin, albeit distant. 🙂
OZ
(Hee hee! My cunning plan worked)
Oz no problems with foxes in the country or any other animal. but in built up London suburbs it is not good for Mr Fox.
I agree, Rick; a short life of junk food and mange.
Why do I get the feeling I’ve just been cunningly had and stitched up big time by the Henley mafia? 😦
OZ
Huge plan for world domination, starting in Portugal. Watch the fox; it’s wired.