Backyard Visitors

We were just finishing breakfast when I went into the kitchen and looked out of the window not expecting to see Fox family curled up sleeping in my backyard. I ran as fast as I could upstairs to get my camera.

Camera in hand I ran back down stairs and the only window I could shoot from had a window blind. Fearing scaring them by opening up the blinds I started shooting thru the blind slats. When I saw that this wasn't working I went to the patio door where the vertical slats gave me less trouble as I took shot after shot of them laying and being totally at ease. Although I've seen foxes crossing a road in other areas of the city, I've never seen them in this very residential neighborhood.

It was close to an hour before they made any movement at all. When they did they looked directly at me. It seemed as if they were not disturbed by my presence. I kept on shooting growing bolder pulling back the vertical blind. They didn't care if I was watching them.

The male lay close to the female. It was he who would look up from time to time as if making sure there was no danger. Something outside must have startled them because the male got up walking slowly to the corner of the yard. This is when I got some good shots as he turned to check on the female as she was headed for the hole in the fence.

Now the male made his move. He jumped up to the top of the fence where he stood surveying the area the female had entered. He then began to walk along the fence. Truly a beautiful sight. By now the female had made it through the fence. Seeing nothing dangerous the male jumped down from the fence into my neighbor's yard. I could see them walking there. I thought their visit was over.

To my surprise, they both returned to my yard. She once again came through the hole in the fence but he preferred using the fence to jump back down into my yard. They each picked new spots and slept for another half an hour or so. Fascinated by their presence my wife and I watched them again. We talked about how protective the male seemed to be of the female. How beautiful it was to see them laying there with the sun shining on them.

This experience taught me that much patience is needed when photographing wildlife. You have to be ready to seize an opportunity when you are lucky enough to get one. The morning was gone. My camera battery was dead, but I am left with some great memories of that backyard visit. I hope they come again.