Tuesday 11 January 2011

Fox outfoxed! .............................................................................by a Lapwing

Haydn's Pool isn't just for the birds... or is it?









Haydn's Pool is one of my favourite places to watch  the local wildlife. If I go during the week I can almost guarantee solitude. 
The episode I witnessed on this particular day though was early afternoon on a Sunday with plenty of people enjoying our local Nature Reserve (a link to the Northwich Woodlands website is below my blog header). As it happened I was alone when on the far side of the water a Red Fox appeared. The Geese and Ducks just moved calmly into deeper water while keeping a close eye on him. About 50 yards to the right of my view point was a helpless Lapwing chick out in the open on the edge of the water and the Fox (unaware of this easy picking) was heading straight towards it. Suddenly one of the chicks protective parents started to dive bomb the Fox. After dodging four or five very close swoops the Fox decided enough was enough turned and ran.
Lovely wildlife behaviour to witness......and capture.

24 comments:

Becky said...

What a great series. You certainly were at the right place at the right time.
B.

Unknown said...

What a great serendipitous capture! Great stuff

Martha Z said...

I do enjoy watching wildlife in their normal behavior. Preditors need to eat and I don't mind watching them secure a meal. Better luck next time for the fox.

floweringmama said...

What a great capture for you! Those shots are just amazing.

Ryan Ankeny said...

What hard working parents! Good job capturing that series.

Unknown said...

Almost a nature documentary!! Good job, Andrew. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River.

Springman said...

What an astounding series of photographs. Lucky for us you were brilliantly prepared to capture the moment. I can only imagine you emotion as the drama played out in front of you. Chances like these are all to rare. Congratulations!
;-)WBW

joco said...

That is so funny.
What luck that you caught it so clearly.
A real treat.

Sondra said...

Wow thats one super series of photos! I know it was amazing to witness this...so happy you got it and now I GOT TO SEE IT TOO!

Empty Nester said...

Wow, those are amazing photos!

Jason Bugay Reyes said...

Nice one !

Sally in WA said...

Awesome series you've captured.

Adam Tilt said...

Lapwings can be surprisingly vicious when they need to be. Great set of pictures.

Stephen de Vere said...

Great set of pics - I would given my eye teeth to have had that moment for my film.

tiptoethruphylsgarden.blogspot.com said...

I LIVE in the woods & never captured the red fox with my camera! I LOVE these photos the way it played out for you,thanks for sharing,phylliso

Mary said...

Wow...what a great series of shots! That fox is gorgeous and the birds don't seem very concerned.

NatureFootstep said...

can´t help it but I feel sorry or the fox. It´s very thin. Great shots from the reality of nature. :)

mick said...

That's a great series of wildlife action and especially good that you were able to photograph it.

Dave said...

Excellent capture!

Anonymous said...

Great sequence Andrew, excellent blog! Cheers, Rob

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Oh my gosh, this is one of my favorite wildlife posts ever!! What a wonderful sequence. Our Colorado kids have foxes in the field next door to them (they live near a pond) and we can watch them for hours, but never have been able to get such lovely pictures. Especially to see them on the hunt and then foiled.
Thank you for sharing -- I just love this post.

theconstantwalker said...

Many thanks for all your lovely comments. It was was one of those a "once in a lifetime" moments and lasted for over 8 minutes. A great nature experience at one of my favourite places.

Unknown said...

Wow! Great find and captures! I think I've never seen a fox in the wild.

theconstantwalker said...

Thanks again for all your kind comments