Possibly the greatest allure of wildlife watching is the tangible sense of anticipation for what may lie around every corner - of possible new species to encounter or new behaviours to witness from more familiar characters. The scene below was photographed by regular (almost resident) visitor Dan Dench and probably falls into the latter category as, to my knowledge, a fox taking to birdwatching is an entirely new phenomenon.
Strangely the moorhen seems either unaware or unconcerned by the cunning ones intense predatory gaze - or perhaps a summer spent avoiding the clutches of our marsh harriers have provided a sense of perspective, enabling it to view a mere fox with a world weary shrug of the shoulders?
Many thanks to Dan for the photograph.
That's a nice moment captured.
Foxes will attract a following of waterfowl as they walk the bank - it's how Duck Decoys work with a small reddish dog substituted for the fox.
Perhaps the posture of the fox - hunched shoulders etc after walking round the pool - could mean "*****-**, is that all I got!" as it looks at the solitary Moorhen?
Back in April 2009 several of us watched a fox on the bank of the N-hide pool attract a flock that included Canada Goose, White Campbell, Swan, a pair of Gadwall and a pair of Garganey. Inevitably the Garganey, being the most "interesting" species to the assembled watchers in the hide, appeared to be by far the least wary. Fortunately the fox was far more interested in sniffing and marking than catching any ducks. There's a copy of my photo somewhere in Radipole's labyrinthine archives but I've posted one to the photo-gallery today.