Fox vs Duck

[Tim Mayo]

I've not been out much lately so I've been digging through some old photos. I was just about to leave a bird hide a few years back when I heard some commotion in front of the hide. A sly fox had sprung out of the bushes and gobbled up a whole load of duckings and their mum who were unfortunately enjoying their breakfast under a feeder at the time. I grabbed my camera which was already in my bag and just about managed to catch the aftermath.

• ILCE-6400
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/1250 sec
• ISO 800

• ILCE-6400
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 640

• ILCE-6400
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 640

• ILCE-6400
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 640

• ILCE-6400
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-6400
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-6400
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 500

• ILCE-6400
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 640

• ILCE-6400
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/800 sec
• ISO 640

 

[Brownie]

Cool shots! Predators are the downside of bird feeders.

 

[Tim Mayo]

Cool shots! Predators are the downside of bird feeders.

Cheers Tim. This fox definitely knew where to go for an easy breakfast. Probably thought it was a Mcdonald's drive-through

 

[Brownie]

Once during a discussion on another forum, someone said to put a shield over the top of your feeders to protect from hawks. One responded said:

"But that's how I feed my hawks!"

 

[iamdlewis]

"But that's how I feed my hawks!"

My local birding organization had a hawk expert guest speaker a couple years ago and during the Q&A there was this exchange:
Member: I live near a heavily wooded area and I seem to get a lot of hawks stalking my bird feeders, how can I prevent this?
Speaker: Stop putting food in the feeders and after a few weeks the hawks will stop showing up.
Member: So I just leave the feeders empty for a few weeks and after I notice the hawks have stopped showing up I can put food back in the feeders. That is interesting doing something so simple would get the hawks to stop.
Speaker: No, once you put the food back in the feeders the hawks will start to show up again.
Member: Why?
Speaker: Well hawks like to eat birds and squirrels and birds and squirrels like the food you put in the feeders. I call it the circle of feeders.

 

[Brownie]

My local birding organization had a hawk expert guest speaker a couple years ago and during the Q&A there was this exchange:
Member: I live near a heavily wooded area and I seem to get a lot of hawks stalking my bird feeders, how can I prevent this?
Speaker: Stop putting food in the feeders and after a few weeks the hawks will stop showing up.
Member: So I just leave the feeders empty for a few weeks and after I notice the hawks have stopped showing up I can put food back in the feeders. That is interesting doing something so simple would get the hawks to stop.
Speaker: No, once you put the food back in the feeders the hawks will start to show up again.
Member: Why?
Speaker: Well hawks like to eat birds and squirrels and birds and squirrels like the food you put in the feeders. I call it the circle of feeders.

Well I suppose he could've trained the hawks to eat seeds and insects!

 

[BryLogan]

Cool shots! Predators are the downside of bird feeders.

And duck hunters….

 

[Brownie]

Michigan has opened a Sandhill Crane season, October-November. We have an overabundance. Evidently, they are the fillet-mignon of the bird world.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Nice Tim. I've not been out either

 

[evacguy]

My fox just seems to sleep during the day, but is ever vigilant.

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
• 200.0 mm
• ƒ/5
• 1/400 sec
• ISO 3200

 

[Deleted Member 5045]

Cool shots! Predators are the downside of bird feeders.

This is why you and your harpoon should be on a 24/7 guard, mate.

 

[Deleted Member 5045]

Hopefully you are able to get amongst it very soon Timmy. Wishing you very well mate.

 

[Tim Mayo]

Nice Tim. I've not been out either

Cheers Kev. Hope the knees aren't keeping you from shooting!

 

[Tim Mayo]

My fox just seems to sleep during the day, but is ever vigilant.

What a beauty. Foxes around here are a little more wary of us humans, for good reason too!

 

[Tim Mayo]

Hopefully you are able to get amongst it very soon Timmy. Wishing you very well mate.

Cheers Clint!

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Cheers Kev. Hope the knees aren't keeping you from shooting!

No, the weather , work, and now a crappy cold.