YES, Finally.

Dale.

Dale.

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Dale.
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Well, it took a while but finally, yesterday morning at just after 6am, had a very welcome visitor. It seems quite relaxed too and not bothered by our security lights coming on, even sniffing our back door at one point. I'm sure that if the door had been open, it would've entered the house. Our back door is right next to the hose reel that you can see. I don't want to tame it but I'd like it to realise our property is no threat.

I had no idea about the fox visiting until late last night (05/11/20) and I was checking the camera footage before bed, it was that morning that it came in. We often, almost every night get cats that trigger the cameras and lights but never until now, a fox.

I'll be happy if he/she just keeps coming in but ultimately, I'd like to take photos of it but that's a while off yet, it all depends if it keeps coming in.

Plan is now to feed it, I'll put some food out last thing when our dog is safe and sound in bed and done with the garden for the night.

Happy days.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arebi8dHbWM


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV92i_m8BZQ
 
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I love these wildlife videos from peoples gardens and the animals that visit. We get nothing in ours, not even birds visit the feeders :(
 
jakeblu said:
I love these wildlife videos from peoples gardens and the animals that visit. We get nothing in ours, not even birds visit the feeders :(
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cover and food seem to be the trick. (y)
 
Well, no sign this last 2 nights. I'm sure he (or she) is about but if so, it ignored the chicken I left out last night.

I'll keep trying, I'm sure once it gets a sniff of a regular meal, it will keep coming. (y)
 
Mate can I give ya a friendly bit of advice...pretend it never happened :LOL: I know where this leads tis not good

B*gger you aren't listening are you:runaway: Fair enough but you were warned:ROFLMAO:

all the luck

stu
 
jakeblu said:
I love these wildlife videos from peoples gardens and the animals that visit. We get nothing in ours, not even birds visit the feeders :(
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Dale. said:
cover and food seem to be the trick. (y)
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Easy access too, Dale. Unfortunately, as our dwindlingh population of hedgehogs will attest, too many of us have enclosed gardens including ours since the new fence with concrete posts was errected. Concretre because the high winds we get with climate change blew down several panels of the old one each time a named storm arrived. The new fence panels sit in concrete 'sleepers too. Having said that ,next door's cat has managed to find a gap under one concrete base (the garden has a slight slope, and regularly comes for a drink from our pond. We've had badgers in the garden in the past and hedgehogs. I used to put out water and cat food for one regular hedgehog (which sadly, was eaten by a badger in next door's garden) and in the summer ,at dusk, I'd sit in a chair on the patio and watch it. It came at just about the same time each evening.
 
JohnC6 said:
Easy access too, Dale. Unfortunately, as our dwindlingh population of hedgehogs will attest, too many of us have enclosed gardens including ours since the new fence with concrete posts was errected. Concretre because the high winds we get with climate change blew down several panels of the old one each time a named storm arrived. The new fence panels sit in concrete 'sleepers too. Having said that ,next door's cat has managed to find a gap under one concrete base (the garden has a slight slope, and regularly comes for a drink from our pond. We've had badgers in the garden in the past and hedgehogs. I used to put out water and cat food for one regular hedgehog (which sadly, was eaten by a badger in next door's garden) and in the summer ,at dusk, I'd sit in a chair on the patio and watch it. It came at just about the same time each evening.
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Our fence was built at the same time as the house. There is a gap all the way around. Our side access gate has a gap at the bottom too. I've seen hedghogs all this year using the gaps up until a few weeks ago. We have a camera at the front as well and the hedgehog would trigger that one before going under the gate, then trigger the one at the back as it scurried over the yard you can see in the fox videos, sometimes triggering the light as well. I'm sure there were 3 or 4 hedgehogs as there were obvious size differences.

Cats trigger both cameras and lights most nights.

I'm not sure how the fox got in as the gaps are quite small at the bottom of the fence, although our dog squeezed under one part of it when she was a half grown pup. She's too big now. I'm guessing the fox squeezed under or slinked over the top of the fence as if he'd come in under the gate, he'd have certainly triggered the front camera as well, which never came on.

No sign again last night but will keep trying.
 
No sign for a couple of nights but Foxy returned this morning, 10/11/20, enjoying the dog kibble I'd spread about the yard last night. This was just after 5am, the other morning was 6am, so if the times are there or thereabouts, I predict an early morning vigil with the camera quite soon. I'll be staying in my workshop for stills at first but hopefully, I'll get it from our backdoor in time.

I'll keep putting food out, record the times, then hatch a photography plan.

Apologies for the awful video, we had quite heavy showers through the night, some of which were obviously affecting the camera.



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYEX8QG678M
 
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Glad that you're getting some results Dale.

I bought a new trail cam a few weeks ago and it's better than any that I've had before, it's a Browning BTC-7e.
We have a small area at the back of the garden that's left "wild", I wasn't sure what I'd get as this bit of Surrey is mostly heathland with a very acid soil. It doesn't seem to support the kind of plants that insects like which is a pain as I'm getting well into macro.
Anyway, I got these two short videos which is a start!


View: https://youtu.be/vPhG9gPNbcg


View: https://youtu.be/lel7yA64OJA


Also a deer wandered past the house a couple of years ago at about 8 am. which was a bit surreal!
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12/11/2020 and possibly 2 different foxes? There seems to be a slight size difference, it's more apparent when viewed on my phone. That said, when I view it on the PC, it looks more or less the same size.

I'm pretty sure it never came in the night before last but I think it's begining to twig there will be a regular feed here for it. I'm using some dog kibble that we had when our pup was switching to raw foods, so Foxy is enjoying that. I've tried the peanut butter trick too, it seemed to work this morning.

Again, roughly the same time as the previous visits, just after 5-30am this time.

It didn't trigger the security light this time, I did adjust the time for the light to be on for longer and I had to move the PIR to do it, so it propably needs adjusting. I've also lowered the video quality and IR sensitivity as it was eating the batteries.

Food will be out again tonight and if I can drag my bum out of bed when the phone alerts go and maybe some stills.




View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pzG6lmqFxI



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18Edr6Pir0I
 
Peanuts are great Dale they seem to love them so not surprised readin of the peanut butter. Peanuts are great you can spread them and the foxes don't seem to have the dentition to eat them quickly so they stay a while and there's loads of funny gob shots to be had as an aside. I was really surprised by that mate,they pretty much came everynight for two or 3 months just for peanuts,although I think water was also a very important facet of why they originally turned up here.

all the luck I'm curious as to how you approach this and what comes back

stu
 
Stuart Philpott said:
Peanuts are great Dale they seem to love them so not surprised readin of the peanut butter. Peanuts are great you can spread them and the foxes don't seem to have the dentition to eat them quickly so they stay a while and there's loads of funny gob shots to be had as an aside. I was really surprised by that mate,they pretty much came everynight for two or 3 months just for peanuts,although I think water was also a very important facet of why they originally turned up here.
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Thanks Stu.

I will try peanuts too, I have some spare at the hide. I think it may be drinking from the pond.

Stuart Philpott said:
all the luck I'm curious as to how you approach this and what comes back

stu
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I will let it establish itself first, then hopefully make stills, that could happen very soon. My original plan was to photograph it from my workshop window, which is on the same side as the camera. The angle is a little high but I'll be happy just to get a still for now. I could also photograph it from our kitchen window, which is directly above the hose reel. My goal though is to photograph it at its eye level from our open backdoor, which might be a while off yet. I need that security light to trigger though. (y)
 
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That's great, hopefully your fox will keep visiting. If you leave the doors open and do a stake out until he arrives that might allow you to get some pictures...

I had hedgehogs every night up until a month ago but they seem to have disappeared from the area. It had been a hotspot and sometimes had four in the garden at the same time, but even though food and water is being left out they don't seem to be visiting anymore and the garden isn't the same without them. Has anyone got any recommendations for a cheap but reasonable trail camera to see if there is still the odd one?
 
Scirocco_09 said:
That's great, hopefully your fox will keep visiting. If you leave the doors open and do a stake out until he arrives that might allow you to get some pictures...

I had hedgehogs every night up until a month ago but they seem to have disappeared from the area. It had been a hotspot and sometimes had four in the garden at the same time, but even though food and water is being left out they don't seem to be visiting anymore and the garden isn't the same without them. Has anyone got any recommendations for a cheap but reasonable trail camera to see if there is still the odd one?
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I can't recommend a trail camera as I'm not using one. My cameras are the Blink system. I have thought about a trail camera but I'm not sure I need one at the moment.

We're still getting the occasional hedgehog, had one last night .
 
Ha us two talking cunning plans,should be a turnip involved somewhere huh? :exit:


Have a look at me false front door Dale, pic on my catch a fox thread..it might help get that POV you want. Still in use ( with the voles)a minute and it's in.place tops. It's too damn cold to have doors open this time of year mate ,but the bigger issue for me was just how difficult it was to press the shutter on PK,my vixen,

A month solid every night every time I hit AF she was gone. Remarkable really, I would guess this will all be down the the individual you are dealing with. Thinking back we got the door open in front of a cub,at the first attempt and made images : it really drives home how tricky mum was, bloody nutcase. I'd never have shot her with the door open she just wouldn't tolerate seeing me.
I'd guess that security light might not be powerful enough Dale,just musing from my own efforts really. I was largely pushing ISO 16000 and those foxes were silly close to the lights. 1 was using

Mate what I did was a bit nuts,staying up every night ,which Is why I posted earlier, warning you off.;).............................. obviously you have the security cam. so don't really need to do all that malarky

Mind it was so silly rewarding, as tough gigs often are,if ya finally get a result or two that is:)
 
Stuart Philpott said:
Ha us two talking cunning plans,should be a turnip involved somewhere huh? :exit:


Have a look at me false front door Dale, pic on my catch a fox thread..it might help get that POV you want. Still in use ( with the voles)a minute and it's in.place tops. It's too damn cold to have doors open this time of year mate ,but the bigger issue for me was just how difficult it was to press the shutter on PK,my vixen,

A month solid every night every time I hit AF she was gone. Remarkable really, I would guess this will all be down the the individual you are dealing with. Thinking back we got the door open in front of a cub,at the first attempt and made images : it really drives home how tricky mum was, bloody nutcase. I'd never have shot her with the door open she just wouldn't tolerate seeing me.
I'd guess that security light might not be powerful enough Dale,just musing from my own efforts really. I was largely pushing ISO 16000 and those foxes were silly close to the lights. 1 was using

Mate what I did was a bit nuts,staying up every night ,which Is why I posted earlier, warning you off.;).............................. obviously you have the security cam. so don't really need to do all that malarky

Mind it was so silly rewarding, as tough gigs often are,if ya finally get a result or two that is:)
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A false door, fiendish and genius. :cool:

I'm cheating a little at the moment with security cameras and phone alerts. Once I have a fair chance that the fox has become regular, then I will go for a decent still. I'd be happy with one through the glass just now, then I can hatch a plan once that's in the bag. The fox doesn't seem too skittish, it wasn't seemingly bothered by the security light coming on on that first night. Maybe it's quite used to people. That could all change with a close up human encounter though, ie me at 5am, it might not go down well with Foxy. The security light that comes on is a 150w halogen, the big boys are rarely switched on, the 2x 500 watters that are higher up on the wall. They are in series and switched from indoors (as is the 150) all with PIR, I could try them and see.

3 visits so far and all roughly the same time, within the same hour, between 5 am and 6 am. If that happens again, then I will set my alarm for 4-30 ish one morning soon.
 
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Door held in place by two wedges of wood mate, specifically cut.............one goes in the frame latch ( LHS) other wedges in behind the actual door up top hinge side RHS, I can be shooting in minutes. Obviously the dodgy bit is Shaz's skirt but no beavers around here leastways not in my garden ,so, so far the old bill hasn't been interested . (y)


More seriously
the skirt and a couple of big rubber bands mean I can shoot without glass but charlie can't see me or me it only through viewfinder ,without the higher bit of plastic. I still had to switch off the LCD screen back of camera as she could see the glow.. i've no idea how many watts the continuous lights I used put out mate,it's that inverse square law of light fall off re distance that you are working with. 500watts mean nowt if too far away from subject

Lol ...............nah phone alerts and security cams aren't cheating plain sensible if you ask me. I just wanted to see everything myself buddy that's actually a We) and being locked in gave me that chance. I started with our out side light aswell ,ours didn't react much either I then popped a table lamp outside under a heath robinson effort of wire and a black bag to protect lamp from elements. That gave me the proof of concept mate,I could stick a light a yard away and they would still come. and feed right next to it. I then spent dosh on the toggin' lights. Good fun though bud really really hard but as before when the images finally came the elation was so cool.....hmm elation probably more along the lines of disbelief actually. :LOL:

With an animal as bright as this you are working with an individual , no way of knowing how they will react until you have seen it your self with that individual fox !! We had 3 here all different personality wise all needed to be treated just slightly different to each other. Good teachers Dale !!

enjoy your 430am

Riddle me this................. why do we do this to ourselves ?
 
Things took a downturn for 2 nights, there was no sign of the fox and the corvids cleaned up the kibble and peanuts each morning.

So last night, Saturday, always a chillout night in the Powell household and I had a few sherberts. I was mindful of the fox but given the last 2 nights, I wasn't expecting it to show. I was wrong, and happy to be so, as it came in the back of 2am, disappeared then came back just after 5am. My phone pinged at 5am, letting me know the camera had been triggered and the security light was on too. I grabbed the camera, my little Fuji for now before I bring out the big gun 5D, I'm happy just to get a (very) record shot just now.

Me, stomping around the kitchen at 5am, a little worse for wear after the beer the previous night and in just boxers would surely be enough to frighten off any discerning fox, or any other wildlife for that matter. But no, as I peered through the blinds, it lifted its head, just looked straight at me whilst feeding on the kibble and peanuts I'd left out and then carried on feeding, it did this twice. It stayed put for about a minute, then trotted off to the top of the garden and just melted into the darkness.

I think it's .....

a... very tame

or

b... very brave,

I thought that was it and went back to bed but about 15 minutes later, my phone pings, light comes on and the fox is there again. I grabbed my camera but given the previous attempts, I decided just to watch this time. Same routine, it lifted its head and peered at me whilst I peered back at it through the blinds. The movement of the blinds didn't bother it all, although I was careful. I think it had eaten all the kibble by now and it headed back up the garden again. I couldn't believe what happened next, as the security light was still on and I could still see the fox clearly. It picked up one of our dog's toys and started tossing it in the air and catching it on the way back down. It would then run around the top of garden with the toy in its mouth. The encounter continued for a while yet as I watched the fox then drink from the pond, before finally melting into the dark morning again. This is out of range of the security cameras, so you'll have to take my word for it.

What an encounter, and a privilege too and hopefully there will be more.

This encounter for me was just a recce type thing. I wasn't sure how much light I'd get off the security light, it's a 150w halogen. There are 2 bigger, 500w lights that are rarely used out of consideration for our neighbours but I might press them into service for a while and see what I get.

This is a recce type image, very record shot and rubbish but a bit like my Kingfishers started out, hopefully this will end up with some decent images. I have a plan but I need to establish the fox just now with a regular feed before I put that into practice.

Fuji X-T10-, 105mm, f5.6, ISO 2000, 1/6 sec, handheld, through double glazing, lit only by a 150w halogen security light in the depths of an Ayrshire night and (me) with a sore head. Blurry, I know, but in those conditions, it's going to be.

I'm quite sure I'd get away with the 100mm f2.8 prime on my 5Div, when I eventually get my plan up and running, I need that 2.8 bit.

DSCF8193 CS6 tp.jpg
 
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I'll save you a video of much the same thing but phone just pinged, camera had been triggered and that's the first early evening visit from the fox. 19:05, 17/11/20.
 
Best night so far.

5 visits through the night last night, raw chicken wings seem to be its thing. It all started just before 10 pm with the last visit being just before 5 this morning. Our dog is raw fed so raw foods for foxy is on the menu too. On a footnote, never feed cooked bones to any animal.

Anyhoo,

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW4DhQGoo88



and, I know, a little motion blur, 1/5 sec for this one and iso 6400 at f4 and through double glazing, under security lights,better colour rendition with the 5D than the Fuji too. Ironically, the shed is being dismantled this weekend hopefully, it's past its best. The base of the hide can be seen top left.

Today may involve putting part of Stu's plan into practice, I'm hoping to fashion a false door of sorts. The fox seems pretty confident now, it looked straight at me several times last night. This may change though with an open back door, albeit it with a false one in place as sound and my scent come more into it. We'll see.

IMGL6130 LR CS6 JP tp.jpg
 
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Last night, we were treated to a proper show by the fox. My Wife came through from the kitchen and said he was out the back, at the same time, the camera triggered. This time though, I left image taking alone and just wanted my wife and daughter to see the fox. The 3 of us just watched for over 5 minutes as it went about its business. It seems quite playful, it often tosses things in the air and catches them on the way back down. It was a lovely encounter, all 3 of us watching.

He comes in regularly now, at least 3 times a night. I have tried my false back door but to no avail, it's a timing thing and maybe my scent comes into it too.

Just after midnight last night, he was in again, but this time, he was sniffing near our hose reel, something must've moved as it obviously startled the fox.

He came back twice through the night after his scare.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEuVeMFh5u8
 
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Panic over.

We live quite rurally, surrounded by farmland and a nearby, 200 yards away, country estate, so hearing guinshot is a regular thing here, at least twice a week. It's one of those things you don't even register anymore.

There was no sign of 'my' fox for 2 nights and given the number of visits we had had of it the previous few nights, 3 times a night at least, I was a little worried that the fox had maybe had a run in with a vehicle or a farmer out with his gun.

Last night though, at 3:43 am, the fox triggered the rear camera. It was just a glimpse, it, scouted the slabbed area then onto the grassed area and was away. I'd left some raw lamb ribs out for it and they had disappeared this morning too.

So, it's back to fox patrol tonight, I may put a few hours in and even press my false back door into service too.
 
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Dale. said:
Panic over.

We live quite rurally, surrounded by farmland and a nearby, 200 yards away, country estate, so hearing guinshot is a regular thing here, at least twice a week. It's one of those things you don't even register anymore.

There was no sign of 'my' fox for 2 nights and given the number of visits we had had of it the previous few nights, 3 times a night at least, I was a little worried that the fox had maybe had a run in with a vehicle or a farmer out with his gun.

Last night though, at 3:43 am, the fox triggered the rear camera. It was just a glimpse, it, scouted the slabbed area then onto the grassed area and was away. I'd left some raw lamb ribs out for it and they had disappeared this morning too.

So, it's back to fox patrol tonight, I may put a few hours in and even press my false back door into service too.
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If the gun shots were more of a crack, then it is more likely to be a high calibre rifle such as .223 or .243 rifle - commonly used by Gamekeepers to shoot Fox .223 or deer .243

If its more dull then in may be a 12 bore shotgun

Les :)
 
Lez325 said:
If the gun shots were more of a crack, then it is more likely to be a high calibre rifle such as .223 or .243 rifle - commonly used by Gamekeepers to shoot Fox .223 or deer .243

If its more dull then in may be a 12 bore shotgun

Les :)
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Yep, up until recently, I had my certificates. I got up one morning a few years ago and decided it wasn't for me anymore, sold my guns to the local gunshop that day and handed my certs into the Police station on the way home. Some of the shots I hear now are from land that I used to shoot on myself. I'm hearing both rifle, possibly .17 HMR and shotguns too.

A fox was one thing I could never bring myself to shoot, despite being asked several times.

These days, I'll shoot them with a camera. (y)
 
This morning was a great encounter that happenned entirely by accident on my part. I put a few hours in last night but by 2 am, I was nodding off so went to bed. At just before 5-45 am, my phone pings, the rear camera had been triggered. I checked the footage and it was a cat. I needed to go to the toilet and then I went to the kitchen to grab a drink. I peered through the blinds and to my suprise, I was face to face with the fox. This was just 5 minutes or so after the cat had triggered the camera. The fox must've been on his way in as he hadn't triggered the camera at this point.

Anyway, I'd forgotten to leave a chicken wing out for it earlier on, so I chanced my arm and tossed one out of the window. The fox did retreat, but not far. He came in and grabbed the chicken wing a minute or so later and headed to the top of the garden to eat it. I watched all of this, expecting the fox to disappear but it came back to the house and sniffed about, looking for more chicken. I decided to throw another wing out for it. In the first video you can see he got spooked, I think this may have been me opening the fridge but he didn't go far, you can just see his ears behind the dead branches on our yard that I picked up over the weekend. In the first video, you can see the chicken wing flying through the air and onto the slabs. The video cuts soon after but almost immediately, the camera triggers again as the fox retrieves the wing and heads up the garden with it. Again, I watched all this, a marvelous 20 minutes or so.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wUOVwIP0s8


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWNHpHuRpGc



I think I may struggle with images though as the security lights are quite harsh and a weird colour but I'll keep trying.


IMGL6135 LR CS6 JP tp.jpg

EDIT: - I got my times wrong, this was just before and after 5am this morning, not 6 as stated above.
 
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gramps said:
It knows a soft touch when it sees one :LOL:
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It's landed on its paws with me that's for sure. :LOL:



gramps said:
Great feeling to have a wild animal feeling secure around you.
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One of the joys of wildlife photography for me, it's not just about turning up and taking photos. It takes some effort to win an animal or bird's confidence and it's a great feeling when you know that's finally clicked. (y)

Still some way to go with making decent images of this fox, if ever. I'm happy just to have the experience, my 8 year old daughter is loving it too. :)
 
Dale. said:
Still some way to go with making decent images of this fox, if ever. I'm happy just to have the experience, my 8 year old daughter is loving it too. :)
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Keep positive, with careful actions you may be able to get quite close (excuse legs & shorts! :LOL: )
A ball (or an apple!) might help too.


 
gramps said:
Keep positive, with careful actions you may be able to get quite close (excuse legs & shorts! :LOL: )
A ball (or an apple!) might help too.


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Cool. :)

Taking about balls/toys, this fox has picked up our dog's toys and deposited them in next door's garden. I was talking to our neighbour yesterday and he mentioned it. I had to have a little giggle inside.

One of the problems I have at the moment is that our fox seems to be a nightime fox. He has only ever so far shown up when it's dark, to my knowledge. Hopefully, as the nights begin to draw out soon, that might change.

It was tempting last night to open the back door and see what happenned. So far, I've only tossed food out to it through the window. It now seems very content to sit and wait on food being thrown out and also, have a kip on our lawn too. I resisted the urge to open the door last night though, at the moment, I think that would be another level for the fox. I also have made a false back door with a camera slot, after reading Stu's thread and I may deploy that tactic over the next few nights, we'll see.

No rush though, just happy to have a fox. (y)
 
Dale. said:
Cool. :)

Taking about balls/toys, this fox has picked up our dog's toys and deposited them in next door's garden. I was talking to our neighbour yesterday and he mentioned it. I had to have a little giggle inside.

One of the problems I have at the moment is that our fox seems to be a nightime fox. He has only ever so far shown up when it's dark, to my knowledge. Hopefully, as the nights begin to draw out soon, that might change.

It was tempting last night to open the back door and see what happenned. So far, I've only tossed food out to it through the window. It now seems very content to sit and wait on food being thrown out and also, have a kip on our lawn too. I resisted the urge to open the door last night though, at the moment, I think that would be another level for the fox. I also have made a false back door with a camera slot, after reading Stu's thread and I may deploy that tactic over the next few nights, we'll see.

No rush though, just happy to have a fox. (y)
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The Fox in the video used to come regularly during late afternoon/early evening but that was in the first lockdown when people were actually observing the regulations but that has changed (just announced that Bristol will be Tier 3 next week!) and together with the days getting dark earlier he hasn't turned up during daylight (to my knowledge).
Opening the door when it's close might be a step too far for now but approaching an already open door might be a different scenario (too cold atm for just leaving it open I guess but opening carefully as soon as the Fox entered the garden might work, especially if the food was tossed out at the same time). :)
 
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