Winter Fox

For Valentine's Day, a long time wish was realized: 

a Browning Trail Camera 

with night video and photo capability. 

I was surprised to see all the fox action at all hours this past winter. 

I positioned the camera on a cherry tree, located at the lower meadow on March 5th.

It's around midnight and only 5 degrees. 

I repositioned the camera on the opposite side of the same tree, to see if I could capture the fox coming towards the camera and I did. The camera must make a noise or project a light to startle the animals each time.

Here is the fox around 7 p.m and 20 degrees out. He comes shooting by again at 10 p.m. and now 11 degrees out.

I was curious if there were fox hunting in the upper meadow, too. I caught a glimpse of this one during the day, headed up the middle path on a cold, sunny day on March 11.

A couple of weeks later, a fox trotted by near the upper meadow during a snow storm at 3 a.m. and 22 degrees out. 

With all this fox action, I was curious if it was a female and with a den near by. 

I never did find one. 

After the Storm

On February 9-10th, a snow storm left about 5 inches and carved and blasted with its strong winds interesting snow patterns.

A fox left a trail looking as determined and with purpose as he always looks when I catch a glance of him as he passes through. Clearly, with the circling around several times, a mouse or vole was heard but not found.

The boreal pond has also had water in it all winter and here are some freeze patterns to enjoy.

In the woods, I disturb a Red tailed Hawk, who soars overhead, 

leaving his post near his yearly nesting site. 

The hawk is in the upper left corner and his nest is in the lower right corner.

The snow highlights the toppled trees brought down by the roaring winds of Hurricane Sandy.

We have had few winter snows this year, one at the end of January, this one in early February and now one today, March 8th, all with minimal impact or snowfall totals in Bucks County. We have missed all the greater impacts of these Northeaster storms that have hit New England and the Mid-Atlantic states hard with storm surges and sometimes record breaking snowfalls.

Fox trot

A red fox trotted quickly along the border of the meadow, stopping only briefly when a scent caught his attention. He passed on through, crossing over the frozen water basin next door and then out of sight. Glad I caught a glimpse of him this morning.

(This awesome photo comes from http://www.dnr.state.md.us/mydnr/CreatureFeature/art/red_fox.jpg)

Fox is Back

I was busy working and looked up in time to witness a fox trotting into the side yard. In just the last few weeks, I have seen him more regularly walking on the edge of the meadow in the middle of the day. He walks with purpose, looks thin and has a scrawny red tail rather than the bushy one from spring. He is circling around, suddenly pounces and is eating something vigorously, perhaps a mouse or mole. Off he goes back around the bend already. Hopefully with the next sighting he will be wearing his full winter coat and look more robust. Note: This awesome shot was found online and the URL can be determined by simply clicking on it.