Red Fox on a hillside – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited or called in
While photographing a pair of Red-tailed Hawks mating and nest building yesterday I caught some movement with my peripheral vision and because I know it is important to look beyond the viewfinder I lowered my lens, looked towards the movement and to my surprise I spotted a Red Fox moving on the hillside.
The female Red-tailed Hawk perched on a nearby rock must have seen the fox about the same time I did because she lifted off and flew to a higher rock. After she lifted off, I pointed out the fox to my companion.
I was able to lift my gear, focus on the fox, and take a few images of it staring in my direction before it ran up the hill and out of my sight. I wondered at the time if the fox had a den in the rocks below where the female hawk had been perched.
The fox’s coat was damp so it may have spent the night curled up in the rocks and I know it had rained in the area because even the shoulders of the road were still wet and I even saw some fresh snow at slightly higher elevations.
I don’t see and photograph foxes as often as I would like to so this Red Fox was a surprise to me because I’d never seen one at this location before.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Red Fox photos plus facts and information about this species.
Terrific shot Mia. We used to see foxes frequently when we lived in No. Calif. Beautiful critters. Thanks.
Foxy, foxy love them! Always a delight.
Nice fox image capture! This one looks pretty lean…and on the lookout for its next meal.
Our foxes ARE introduced. And considered a pest by many.
Their introduction was not of their doing, and I love to see them (too rarely) and admire their adaptability.
Beautiful (invasive) animal. For me they are part of what I call natures eye candy. I wish I saw more too. Like Patty, sadly the last two I saw had been hit by cars.
April, recent studies challenge the idea that Red Foxes are introduced, a good read on the subject can be found here: https://www.mammalogy.org/articles/origin-recently-established-red-fox-populations-united-states-translocations-or-natural-ran
Nice surprise. I like how the foreground matches the colors of its fur. Thanks for posting on another rainy day.
I used to see Red Fox quite often….but never any more…I saw the last one several years ago–dead–on the road…There are so many birds and other critters that I used to see quite regularly that, now, I never see at all… My world seems emptier and lonlier without them….too many people, too few others…
Red fox. A rare treat