Anyone who has been following this blog for awhile knows that red foxes have evaded me for many, many years despite several efforts on my part to be hidden, in the right place at the right time, even using tracking during winter to find probable den sites. If not, you can see these prior posts about it here, here, and here. The images I have seen from other photographers that have had the opportunity were forms of cruel and usual punishment! Ok, just pure jealousy on my part, but painful to think about nonetheless.
Perhaps because I followed all the “nature photographer mantras” on trying to make the opportunity happen – learn about habitat, tracking, patience, and putting in the time in the field made the frustration larger than normal for me. All of which didn’t yield a single image. The one thing I was missing.. LUCK! We like to think it is a result of all of our planning and time in the field, but it plays a big role.
Well, that wait ended unexpectedly yesterday with my early morning drive up to Tawas Point for spring bird migration. Though the day was not very productive for me with birds, imagine my excitement when I found a fox den complete with resident kits! I saw an adult hunting earlier and was trying to follow where it may be bringing food. It paid no attention to me being around at all. But they have a sneaky way of not going directly back to their dens. So I lost it, but ran into others that saw it and knew of the den. They kindly told me of the general area to look in, and I found it.
Well, the rest of the day seemed to go crazy with encounters with these foxes. The kits would walk away from the den without the mother, and often went right down trails where people were bird watching. Surprised quite a few of them actually. Then they would return for a bit and go to sleep. And since they went to sleep with me and several others nearby, I certainly knew we were not intruding on them. We still kept our distance. It turns out these particular kits were local celebrities because they had appeared in a local paper, and many people had come out to look for them. Another photographer had mentioned he had already spent several weekends with them. Regardless, I was like a kid in a candy store for the first time.
So my wait is finally over. I have many other images to share as soon as I have time to process them all. But I had to share at least just one from a very good day. So what birds did I see? I don’t remember. 😉
See you in the woods,
Mark
Sweet shot Mark!
I dream of finding a fox den like this on someday.
Well – you pretty much said yourself how I feel while looking at this wonderful image…
“The images I have seen from other photographers that have had the opportunity were forms of cruel and usual punishment! Ok, just pure jealousy on my part, but painful to think about nonetheless…”
Now it’s my turn to be green with envy!!! Congratulations!!!
Amazing shot…shows that your patience and persistence paid off. I expect to see this one gracing the cover of a calendar next year! I can’t wait to see the rest of them.
My wife also loves this picture. Her exact quote “Aahhhhwwwwww…”.
They are lovely animals, aren’t they? Coincidentally, one just trotted up my driveway right before I read this post! I missed the photo opportunity, of course. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your foxes. 🙂
Thanks all for the kind words. I would have been happy with a so-so shot, but to get one like this – I was ecstatic.
Mark, that is fantastic. This was well worth the wait. What a shot!
Absoultely superb capture – very well done!
– Paul @ http://www.photographyvoter.com
One never knows what will happen when out looking for birds. Great shot!
Congratulations…great shot. Sure looks like it was well worth the wait!
What a handsome little guy. A very nicely composed and crafted piece. Luck – it never made an image, so I don’t tend to give it much credit. Luck does offer some great experiences, but your image is your effort and vision. Sometimes it takes more effort to fulfill a vision.
What a fantastic shot of this young fox. Beautiful posture.
Congrats on tracking some down! That is a beautiful shot of the little one.