It was of course a fox, and evidently one used to presence of humans. She sat perfectly still, looking up at me, as I took picture after picture of her. Only for me to realise that for some reason related to seer idiocy, I'd have the cameraphone on "film" setting, and had produced noting but a series of short films of dark paving slabs.
As soon as I had got the phone onto the right setting, the fox trotted up towards Bridge Street and disappeared. I stood there cursing myself to the skies for not being able to record such a close vulpine encounter - the fox was barely three metres away from me.
I decided to follow the fox to Bridge Street thinking it would be long gone. But as I turned the corner, there it was, sat munching away on what looked like a Babybel wrapper with an audible crunching sound.
It being a quiet Tuesday, there were fewer people around, but likewise there was a corresponding lack of fast food goodies overflowing from bins for hungry foxes. Barely able to breathe, I crept closer, taking a few pictures with the flash on, and the fox again took itself off. I decided from the state of the brush that it was a vixen, slightly on the thin side but otherwise in good condition.
She was also very peckish, as rather than heading to the churchyard where I presume her den was, she trotted back along the bollards before sidling up alongside the chemists shop before investigating a plastic drinking straw next to another bin.
By this time, she was barely a metre and a half away. Done with crunching on the straw, she found some other litter to nibble at, before slouching off round the corner onto Cartergate. I followed her round, and she decided to trot back into the market square again. I left her at that point to carry on her feeding activities.
In all, I think I must have watched her for around 10 minutes, and felt very privileged to have had the fates grant me this encounter.
Si
All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature
A brilliant encounter. The few foxes I've seen here in the village have been very wary and rapidly disappear from sight.
ReplyDeleteWow! Marvellous. Lucky you. Just shows we don't know what goes on at night in places we're familiar with by day.
ReplyDeleteThe fox is one of my favourite animals.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing experience........wonderful to be so close to a wild animal.
Glad you managed to get some images, thanks for sharing :)
Lovely shots - you never know what is going on the our streets when we are all in bed do you? Nice tour round Newark too.
ReplyDeleteA great encounter Simon especially to get such close views :)
ReplyDeleteSomeone tried to put the wind up me last night saying tame foxes behave that way because of a strain of Rabies! LOL. I think it was hunger overcoming her natural fear. But now the Thursday night start of the weekend, she'll be well off for discarded chips, kebabs and battered sausages for the next three nights.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely comments, pity the pics aren't sharper, but it's a mobile phone cam in low light on a moving target.