Fantastic Mr Fox

Not the sharpest of the fox pictures I got this morning, but I like the interaction between (what I think is) one of last year's cubs and his mum. She was certainly a little more tender than his dad... Mind you, he started getting fed up with the constant grooming.

Posing
Content
Standing Out

Foxes are getting a fair amount of bad press in the UK at the moment, and there have been calls for culls. All based on media created hysteria of course - fox numbers around the country are actually down on recent years after really bad mange outbreaks, and far, far fewer people are hurt by foxes in the UK than domestic dogs. Way fewer. A tiny percentage of the number. And even on the reported incidents there are somewhat 'hazy' facts. And unreported-at-the-time family dogs.

Still, if people are willing to believe everything they read...

Fantastic wildlife day all round (though nothing to add to the BlipBigYear), with a squabble amongst a small flock of Bullfinches over a female (isn't it always the way?) and a goose-stepping Great-spotted Woodpecker near the foxes. Then a spin out along the coast with Mel trying out her new bike in the sun brought some lovely Bar-tailed Godwits, Velvet Scoter and, best of the lot (though a long way off so a big crop), Long-tailed Duck.

Been a fab day all-told.