| Friday, August 24, 2018 | | Foxes and Rainbows | Usually my monthly blogs hind-cast back four weeks or so, and catch you up on whatever has been happening, naturally-speaking, in my part of the Outer Banks. This particular blog will include some images even older than that, as I deliberately like to wait to post images of Very Young Critters until they are older and out on their own.
I mentioned in an earlier blog that I had the chance this spring to watch some baby red foxes for the first time in a couple of years. Mom and Dad Fox have moved that den now, and the youngsters become more wary as they grow, so I have not seen any activity at the den site for some weeks now. Just when I was really missing seeing them, and thinking how very long eleven months loomed without any fox interaction, I had another opportunity with an entirely different family to watch some young foxes at an age I have never photographed before. These kits were more like young teenagers--still somewhat curious but limiting their appearances to the edges of the day, so I needed higher ISO (and a lot of patience) to photograph them at their serious business of playtime, exploration and occasional rest. I think I may have seen one of the parents a good ways off, watching the teenagers, a time or two, but never at close enough range to make a decent photo, even with my long lens. What struck me most about these growing youngsters was that they needed to grow into their ears! A couple of folks I shared these images with remarked how different they look from the other red foxes, either younger babies or older adults I have photographed before. Perhaps that is due to seeing them at a different age and stage in their growing. The most curious had distinct markings around its eyes, so I was able to tell that one apart from the rest.
Now they, too, have become more elusive, whether they are in a different spot altogether or coming out only well after dark. I did go to their general area after the sun had set and saw some glowing eyes, so they may still be nearby. The chance to see foxes at this age and stage was a totally unexpected delight, one for which I am very grateful.
Following a couple weeks of relentless rain, we have again settled into the weather I associate with August—towering, glowing thunderheads in afternoon that sometimes result in a quick squall and a kiss-and-make-up rainbow afterwards. I have seen more rainbows in the past week than in all the rest of the year so far put together. The longest lasting one of those is below.
After photographing a dramatic downburst in Duck in early June, I never expected to see practically the same formation so soon again, but an offshore squall line obliged with a double downburst the other evening as I was driving home through Kitty Hawk.
How many times in a week, in a day, I find myself giving thanks for this wonderful life I am blessed to live! Not only do I manage to find moments outside, in this beautiful place I get to call home, but I can make memories out of Moments, and then share them. Life is pretty great. Especially with foxes and rainbows!
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click for larger image | Frog legs for breakfast. Foxes eat small amphibians, bugs like crickets, persimmons, and small rodents. I've even found sea oats in their scat. |
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click for larger image | As with puppies and kittens, fox-play involves a lot of rough-housing that seldom gets too rough. |
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click for larger image | Just as at our old gallery location, foxes and bunnies seem to coexist nicely here. It was good to see them in the same space. |
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click for larger image | All our rain squalls have left ponds at Jockey's Ridge, which pick up the sunset color nicely and give a view we don't usually see here. |
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click for larger image | Folks who know me well know I am always, always on the lookout for hearts in the landscape. I like to say, Love shows itself everywhere. We just have to pay attention. |
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click for larger image | Here is the reward for all that rain! I got wet for this one. The conditions were perfect for a rainbow--sprinkles and sunshine. But I waited through heavier shower for the rainbow to reach its brightest appearance. |
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posted by eturek at 10:58 AM |
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