Last night, Dave and I were watching TV as the light was fading in the garden. Suddenly a brown animal trotted past the back door. Olga noticed right away and made a beeline for the door (a French door with a big window). I joined her and we watched as a fox sniffed around in our shrubbery, first on one side of the garden and then the other.
Eventually it emerged and came down the garden steps toward our patio. (The light was getting dim and my shutter speed was slow, and I had mild "photographer panic," hence the slight camera shake.)
Finally it turned tail and trotted across the lawn, looking back just before disappearing over the fence in the back corner by the shed.
Well, that was some excitement! Olga was on red alert the rest of the evening, but I didn't let her out for a while because I wanted to make sure Reynard was really gone. Doesn't that fox have an impressive coat and tail? So plush and furry!
I really need to set up the "garden cam" again and get some video.
Otherwise, yesterday was a slog. We are at our busiest time of year in the library and I am meeting a wall of resistance from some kids about taking care of their lost items. I don't think I've ever had a year when I've had so much difficulty. They just don't seem to understand my urgency, even though we only have seven school days left, and they are utterly unapologetic. Their attitude is, essentially, "What's the big deal?"
My colleagues have said that many kids have really struggled to bounce back from the Covid lockdowns and online learning -- that they were essentially deprived of critical developmental time and are now lost, unprepared and wandering. Perhaps what I'm seeing is part of that same phenomenon.
You had a very pretty garden visitor.
ReplyDeleteBeing lost because of covid makes sense, the kids were home forever and didn't have to worry about lost books etc, so now they don't get what all the fuss is. it will take time and many repeated requests for the old routine to get back into full swing again.
Beautiful photos. Reynard looks well.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there will be long-term developmental effects on children.
What delightful fox photos! It would have gone very quickly from our garden as Alexi would have brought the house down with barking if he had seen a fox outside. (He had a tooth out yesterday and was very sorry for himself when he got home......"cried" for a couple of hours which was very distressing. He seems more himself this morning)
ReplyDeleteWell done with the fox pictures Steve. Of course foxes are mostly nocturnal but at this time of year there is so little dark night that they have to do some of their rounds in daylight.
ReplyDeleteI believe you will make more progress with the overdue books if you make genuine physical threats. A firm punch in the solar plexus usually does the trick but please ensure there are no witnesses.
We have/had a fox that lived somewhere in the woods at the base of the yard and every time I see her, I can count the times in ten years on one hand, I am much like yourself and Olga. I'm not sure why that is but I can't help it apparently. I haven't seen the fox in probably five years so perhaps she moved on or died.
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteWe put the infra-red camera for a couple of nights out recently, and two (we think) rather large hedgehogs are visiting the feeding station. Perhaps a breeding pair.
That's a flourishing city fox. His brush is just magnificent. We get foxes in the daytime strolling about, lovely animals.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the kids and their noncompliance. I definitely feel that way, too. As an invalid, self taught voracious reader, I was rarely able to be at school and when I was I couldn't fathom the anxiety they had about rules and order! I wasn't a rebel, just baffled by the insistence on this goes here, now, not there, then. But I can see your growing frustration with it, too!
That was a very handsome fox.
ReplyDeleteNice little garden surprise for the whole family.
ReplyDeleteGreat fox photos.
ReplyDeleteI think the Covid lockdown excuse is overrated and stern talk might bring them back to normal. However, I do understand how difficult it has been for children but that doesn't make the order of authority change.
Beautiful, healthy-looking fox! Good shots, Steve!
ReplyDeleteI have no suggestions about getting books back. Doesn't the school have some sort of arrangement where parents are billed if the books don't show up?
It still amazes me that you have foxes in your garden in the middle of London.
ReplyDeleteHandsome visitor - how exciting! I've seen a fox only a handful of times in my life and it is always a treat.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful view of that fox in. your beautiful garden. I still never expect to see foxes in gardens in London, but there it is. What a beauty!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Andrew about the covid excuse- likely that expectations for students must be altered , adjusted. Lincoln never went to school, and he did OK. Your fox is so fancy- beautiful shots, Steve!
ReplyDeleteHave the parents been notified too? They are the ones that should make sure their kids have returned their books - no Covid excuse. Bill them for the cost then.
ReplyDeleteCool fox photos!
An interesting take on how the lockdowns have affected the children. I suppose they will come to be know as Gen C, for covid. And that fox, where does he come from in urban London?
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful fox! Yep, I don't hear much encouraging news from my friends in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteWhat great photos of your neighborhood fox. I bet Olga would have loved to chase after this little guy.
ReplyDeleteWe've only caught a glimpse of a fox once since we've lived in this house. I think our foxes are much more secretive than your London city foxes! :)
ReplyDeleteI believe what you're describing is bigger issue. they truly don't give a shit about these issues. So what if the book doesn't get back.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful photos of the fox! They're such beautiful creatures. Only one time do I remember seeing one in our woods.
ReplyDeleteSquirrels on the Heath, foxes in the garden.... Olga is on a roll with critter spotting!
Those are great photos of the fox. He does look healthy and bushy. I used to see foxes in Bethnal Green when I lived there some years ago and they were always scrawny and thin and scary. They would come at you to steal food from your hands if you had a takeaway in the street.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! Many years ago I had a fox with kits living in my woodland next to a paddock. They would come into the paddock and rumble/tumble play while mama sat by patiently watching them. You have a lovely garden, btw.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about attitude being an after-effect of Covid days. That makes some sense, at least worth thinking about.
ReplyDeleteYour fox is gorgeous. I can see why you don't want Olga hanging out there with it, but definitely a beauty and you got some terrific photos, especially given the light. (I wouldn't have thought about that if you hadn't mentioned it!)
The pictures of your fox are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful fox but I see grey hair on his back so he may be getting old. He is quite courageous though.
ReplyDeleteGosh, that fox is gorgeous. He really looks as if he's stepped out of a fairy tale! As for your kids and their development: I keep reading about this and feel so bad for all of them. Hopefully, they will "catch up" or begin developing appropriately again -- whatever that means, anyway!
ReplyDeleteGood photos of a healthy fox, nice to see that. Urban foxes seem to be more common...I suppose they feel safer..and can forage more! They will help to keep the rodent population down if nothing else!
ReplyDeleteAnother nickname for them is Charlie.
That's a really beautiful fox. You got some nice photos. Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDelete