Red Foxes at Bombay Hook NWR, DE January 2008

This is something I posted as a complete story line over a handful of days.



Red Fox at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware.

----

Today was just so awesome. My second trip to Bombay Hook NWR and I can't believe it.

It was supposed to be cloudy all day, and on Friday I was expecting Saturday to be a wash. But I went, and it was actually partly cloudy early. You just can't trust the weathermen that much.

Foxy!


It was in the 20's and a lot of the water was frozen over. I saw numerous foxes on the ice, a lot of them. According to Doug, who has gone here a bunch, the foxes were extra active and he saw around 8 or 10 of them early in the day.

I also ran in to Robert and Barry and his dad.

On the prowl - Red Fox at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge


Early morning consisted of a number of foxes working the marshes and ice. In between periods of being active a couple times we could see them lay down, and rest, and clean themselves some.

Then this one made some good time along the edge of the ice, and stopped a few times to scent mark... In the above she (?) scent marks just before running across the road to a different patch.

Scent Marking - Red Fox at Bombay Hook NWR, DE


Having just scent marked the fox crosses the road and takes a moment to look behind her. Her plan is starting to come together.

Red Fox checks the trail she has set


(Red Fox at Bombay Hook NWR, DE)

Unable to resist her charms he follows his nose, it always knows... (lol, couldn't resist)...

He's hot on her trail


Red Foxes at Bombay Hook NWR, DE

The female made it in to the marsh/woods and he followed her in. A minute later the two of them came racing out. You can see her slightly submissive posture in the above...

The time draws near


Red Foxes Mating - Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware

Having lured in the male with her charms, they began to mate, and actually mated continuously for the first hour or so! They then each settled in to the grass and slept for a while....

There had to be 7 or 8 photographers around for the much of the early activity, but most moved on including myself once they went to sleep. But this story doesn't end here...

Love is in the air....


Red Foxes Mating and Bonding at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

...when you're happy it shows. He's so happy I think he's dancing.

After initially mating for about an hour, they rested and then over the course of another hour or two mated and played a little. I'd have to guess that they were afraid of each other before they first got together. And with that out of the way they seemed to be more at ease with each other.

I'm really looking forward to going back and hopefully seeing some kits! I read a bit this weekend and learned that the males will stick around and help feed the female while she's pregnant (wiki)..

I have a hunch that when she marked the trail and he followed it was to where she has her den picked out. Had that been where she wanted to mate they would have never left the wooded area and come back in to our view along the marsh.

A Thousand Words


Together, they rejoiced!

Read more On "Red Foxes at Bombay Hook NWR, DE January 2008"!

Red Foxes at Bombay Hook NWR, DE January 2008

Deer @ Great Falls NP Maryland July 16, 2008

I went to Great Falls (MD) tonight. I considered going to a few places, including Belle Haven marina for the Osprey, and Centennial Lake in Columbia MD for the herons and the possible eagle, and even Mason Neck in VA which would have wound up being just for an hour or so but likely would have had eagles *around*, but I went to Great Falls instead.




There were two pairs of fauns I saw. One pair was on the inland side of the C&O right near the path to the main falls overlook on the MD side.





The other pair was along the path itself to the main overlook. All four were just grazing and kept a watchful eye but weren't too skittish.





When I first got there I went to check on the eagle's nest and the eagles. The last time I visited there was apparent damage to the nest, and it looked like lightning may have struck the nest tree, and there was a very large limb just under and above the nest missing. I wondered if the young eagle was impacted, and wondered if he was ok.



Well, tonight my fears evaporated. While I didn't actually see any of the eagle while I was there, I could hear them! As I walked along the trail next to the river, I passed a few guys fishing. I made my way to the spot across from the nest, and for a moment thought there was a mature eagle in the nest, but there wasn't, it was just some bark that reflected a patch of light. Then I walked farther up river and I could hear the young eagle, calling out like a crying kid. Then a bit later I know I heard the strong call of an adult, sort of the classic bald eagle call (yup, yup, yup, de de do do do). And of course the young eagle cried/called some more. So I knew they were ok, at least two of them.

When I got home I check a handful of the images of the island and spots I know they perch (adults) and where I thought I heard the youngster calling from. At the time I couldn't see any thing. The island is back lit in the evening, and the glare off the water was strong too. But when I got home, I found an image with one adult for sure, and maybe a second adult (slightly lower and the left of the more visible one).



The Falls tonight


A blurry heron over the falls


Oh! And as I was leaving I saw a fox for the second time this summer in this spot. Last time I got no shot, but this time I got a dark and blur filled photo at ISO 1600 that is merely proof that I saw a fox.... The fox was just north of the spot you pay the entrance fee at Great Falls MD. (right side of the road as you enter)



I got a handful of fox images a couple of years ago, and this one was my favorite. (you may have seen it in a calendar...)



-Jon
Read more On "Deer @ Great Falls NP Maryland July 16, 2008"!

Deer @ Great Falls NP Maryland July 16, 2008