The recent weeks have felt noticeably quieter on the animal front, which is why the video updates have been on hold.
However, the grey squirrel still provides some entertainment with its acrobatic dashes up and down the tree, culminating in a daring branch-assisted crossing of the pond.
Our regular visitor, the Grey Heron, continues its foraging trips between our pond and the neighbours’. While I’ve only observed it catching frogs, I did hear a report of one elsewhere preying on the protected Great Crested Newt.
Adding a much-missed face to the local wildlife, a badger made an appearance, initially by the pond and then on the lawn a few days later.
Finally, the Moorhens are still active on the pond and seem to have successfully displaced the ducks, a change from their peaceful coexistence in the previous video.
The preceding fortnight has been characterised by predominantly dry conditions and clear skies. While for a few days we experienced warmer temperatures, the majority of the period was marked by cold weather, with the pond occasionally freezing over.
A variety of avian species graced the area. A blackbird was observed foraging amongst the leaf litter, while a muntjac deer made a solitary appearance, browsing on the grass near the pond. A collared dove was also sighted at the water’s edge. A fox visited the vicinity on several occasions, sometimes venturing close to the camera and at other times traversing the pond’s perimeter beneath the overhanging vegetation. During one such visit, the fox startled a moorhen, which promptly sought refuge in the pond. A jay was also noted as an occasional visitor.
The relationship between the mallards and moorhens has shown signs of improvement compared to the previous years, when the mallards were consistently driven off. While minor skirmishes still occur, the mallards have managed to maintain their presence.
A male pheasant, likely an escapee from a nearby shoot, continues to inhabit the area. The exact origin of the pheasant remains uncertain, as there are currently no active shoots within a significant radius.
Finally, the rabbit population has flourished, providing a vital food source for the various carnivores that roam the region.
A couple of mallard ducks came to visit. They did not stay long, probably chased off by the moorhens.
The moorhens were around for most of the week, swimming and walking across the grass.
A fox paid us several visits during the week. Looking for a mate?
There was a fabulous display by the grey heron, who also caught a frog and devoured it in front of the camera.
A jay came around one day, and worked its way through the leaves looking for food.
A couple of male pheasants walked past the pond. One behind the other, escapees from a shoot, perhaps.
Rabbits were much in evidence, dashing from one side of the pond to the other.
Some crows took the opportunity of a frozen pond to practise their ice skating.
One grey squirrel was seen in the trees, fat after feeding on our bird feeders.
The starlings have been in evidence on the field, and did appear for a short while in front of the cameras.
Unfortunately one of the cameras had the incorrect date set. Time, Month and Day were correct, but the year was 2024, whereas it should have been 2025.
Our field pond continues to be a hub of activity, offering fascinating insights into the local wildlife. Fox sightings remain infrequent, but we were fortunate to capture a glimpse of a young fox near by. Interestingly, the moorhens, usually quite skittish, seemed completely unconcerned by its presence. This suggests they may be becoming accustomed to foxes, or perhaps the young fox was not displaying predatory behavior. Foxes, afterall, while often perceived as a threat, play a vital role in controlling rodent populations and maintaining ecosystem balance.
A heron also graced us with its presence. While it wasn’t observed fishing this time, it did wade along the pond’s edge before taking flight. Herons are opportunistic feeders, consuming fish, amphibians, and even small mammals. Their presence is a good indicator of a healthy pond ecosystem.
The moorhens were actively swimming, a behaviour often observed as nesting season approaches. Moorhens, members of the rail family, are known to build nests amongst reeds or in dense vegetation near water. Their frequent treks across the field to the neighbor’s pond likely indicate they are exploring different territories or resources.
A male and female pheasant also made several appearances. These ground-dwelling birds are common in many gardens and are often attracted to areas with seeds and insects.
As always, pigeons and rabbits were abundant. The rabbits, our most frequently observed mammal, were captured in a short video clip. Rabbits are herbivores and can be a significant food source for predators like foxes, but seemingly not ours, and birds of prey. The pigeons, some rather plump, were also spotted.
A flock of starlings descended upon the pond, some to feed and others to bathe. Starlings are highly social birds, often forming large flocks, and are known for their impressive mimicry skills. Seeing them enjoying the water on a sunny day was a delight.
Finally, a grey squirrel, another common garden resident, was spotted and photographed. Grey squirrels are opportunistic feeders, consuming nuts, seeds, fruits, and even insects. They are known for their caching behaviour, which helps disperse seeds and contributes to forest regeneration.
It has been quite some time since I last shared a video showcasing the wildlife around the garden. Sightings of foxes have been infrequent, mostly limited to them passing through the garden without settling. They have not yet taken over any rabbit burrows for breeding purposes.
The most notable sighting was that of a Grey Heron, which appears to have made the field pond its new habitat. I was fortunate enough to capture footage of the heron stalking across the pond after sunset. There is one particular moment where it can be seen holding a frog in its beak, and another where a fox is seen walking behind it. You can find these scenes using the YouTube chapters.
Please note that the dates displayed by the cameras follow the American date format (Month, Day, Year), as the cameras do not support localized date settings.
Bird species recorded by the cameras include: Blackbird, Chaffinch, Heron, Crow, Jay, Moorhen, Pheasant, Redwing, and Starlings. Mammals observed include: Domestic Cat, Muntjac Deer, Fox, and Rabbit.
After a disappointing spring looking for foxes, and a busy summer travelling, there were very few sightings of foxes, Now back at home, we decided to put out the cameras again. Not much to report, a fox, rabbits, randy pigeons, cat and a muntjac deer. It is a start, as we search the garden for the best position to set the cameras.
The weeks before we went on our Outer Hebrides holiday, I had been monitoring a Moorhen nest in our wild garden pond. Interesting visits from a fox who came around several times but gave up trying to scavenge the eggs. Foxy didn’t like getting wet. As fate dictated the eggs hatched when we were away on holiday. Luckily, they started to hatch as we left, so I did get some video footage of a couple of chicks. The constant movement of the Moorhen, and vegetation caused the trail cams memory card to fill up in two days.
It has been a full month since I shared the video documenting our foxes. However, the passing days have ushered in a sense of stagnation. The adult foxes continue their routine traverse across the field, perhaps eyeing the neighbouring chickens with intent, yet showing no signs of ousting the resident rabbits. Occasionally, a male pheasant makes fleeting appearances in the vicinity, though we now observe just one solitary bird frequenting our feeder. Gone are the days of jumping up and knocking the feeder to get some seeds. This pheasant, leaps up & down, squawks and flaps his wings. It doesn’t appear to cause any food to drop, but he’s working on it.
A pair of Moorhens briefly graced us with their presence as they crossed the mound, prompting me to redirect one of our cameras towards the tranquil pond. Despite the addition of rabbits to the scene, there seems to be a palpable absence of avian activity this month. However, a solitary Eurasian Jay did make a rare appearance, briefly breaking the monotony with its presence.
It has been a month since I last shared any updates from the wildlife cameras. I’ve been diligently moving them around the garden, but unfortunately, sightings of foxes have been almost non-existent. However, I’ve come across some remarkable footage of foxes on other YouTube channels. I highly recommend checking out the ‘Nature Live Camera’ hosted by Morten Hilmer on his land in Denmark. There are a couple of clips from the live video feed capturing foxes in action: here and here.
So, what can I report from our own observations?
A grey squirrel, though thankfully it doesn’t frequent the bird feeders too often.
Rabbits, included this month just to prove their presence in our area.
A pair of Moorhens, intriguingly investigating a rabbit hole. Could they possibly be considering nesting there? We typically have a pair of Moorhens that visit and breed around our pond, so I’ll be setting up a camera to monitor the area closely.
A male pheasant, a familiar sight as he wanders our field, enjoys the bird feeder, and pays visits to our neighbours.
Foxes, with a couple of rare sightings captured. The last sighting revealed a pair of foxes; one can be seen crossing from left to right, and behind a fallen tree, there appears to be the reflection of another animal, presumably another fox.
Here’s hoping for more exciting sightings in the days to come!
The regular fox sightings near our field pond and wild garden paint a fascinating picture of a thriving ecosystem in our backyard. Here’s an expansion of our observations.
The visiting fox is likely a vixen, she is displaying classic hunting behavior. Her sniffing around rabbit hole could be for two reasons:
Prey Scouting: Looking for potential meals in the future.
Den Site Selection: Foxes give birth in dens, often repurposing existing burrows like those made by rabbits. So our vixen is hopefully looking for a place to bring up her fox cubs.
The time difference between our fox and rabbit sightings suggests a well-established coexistence. Rabbits are highly attuned to predators, possessing excellent hearing and sight. They detect the fox’s presence and retreat to their burrows for safety.
Foxes are more than just cunning hunters. They play a vital role in the ecosystem by controlling rodent populations, including those that can damage gardens and crops. Their presence also indicates a healthy environment with a diverse food chain. Unfortunately, they do have a taste for chicken.
