A couple of days ago I began a posting with the words “Redheads tend to be stunning, rare, and elusive” and I could easily have used those words to describe the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) that I encountered yesterday morning at Huntley Meadows Park.
The fox appeared to be hunting at the edge of the water of one of the ponds in a remote part of the park. I was standing at the edge of the water on the other side of a beaver pond from the fox when it emerged from the vegetation and walked to the water. I don’t think the fox was ever aware of my presence. I tried to stay composed and motionless as I snapped away with my camera.
Initially I thought the fox was simply getting a drink of water, but it walked along the shore for a few minutes as though it were seeking prey. Eventually it faded back into the brush and the magical moments came to an end,
I’m still going through my photos, but here’s an initial favorite. I suspect there will be a follow-up posting or two, but I can’t contain my excitement about the encounter and the fact that I was able to capture some images.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I love his pose, the anticipation. This is great, all of my fox sightings has been very fleeting.
Thanks. I don’t see a fox very often and usually it is only the back side of the fox as it is running away. This is only the second time that I have seen a fox so clearly and for a relatively extended period of time.
What a wonderful image. I love the sense of movement in the fox’s pose – you caught that perfectly – and the slight reflection in the water.
I’ve not encountered a fox in America but back home in Britain it was rare for me to ever spot one in daylight. I’ve never seen a wild fox by day that I can recall, only urban ones.
Thanks, Laura. I was taking in the natural beauty of the pond when suddenly the fox appeared. I see them so rarely that it was a treat. I took a lot of shots, but this one really appealed to me for the reason you mentioned. Even though the fox was stationary, there is a tenseness that suggest movement, like he was ready to pounce.
No wonder you were excited. That’s a beautiful fox in a wonderful setting.
You set the bar pretty high for the rest of us, Lyle, with your shots of a fox pouncing in the snow. I’m trying to catch up. 🙂
That’s an excellent shot of a very elusive creature! I usually see a red flash and a tail disappearing into the woods.
What an amazing shot Mike! No wonder you were super pumped! So glad you kept it together to get a great capture
Thanks. It was a wonderful experience and the fact that I was able to capture it so well magnified the joy I was feeling.
What a great shot! Superb composition.
Thanks so much. As you might suspect, there was a lot of luck involved in getting that shot.
I love foxes. They are considered a pest here, but I can’t help it. Your image is beautiful: the colours, the reflection… Looking forward to more!
THAT needs to be blown up and hung on your wall!
I just might take your advice, Carol, though there are some other wonderful shots from that encounter that perhaps are just as good.
Check out my newest post, Carol, for a couple of more images of the fox.
You bet!
[…] I am so thankful and feel blessed that I had the chance to observe the fox in the wild for a relatively extended period of time. For more info on the encounter, check out my initial posting Fox at water’s edge. […]
Stunning photo!bbi wonder if the fox was watching a muskrat swimming under water?? This pose makes it look more like it’s hunting than drinking…
[…] you haven’t seen my previous posting with photos of this session with the fox, check out Fox at water’s edge and Fox at water’s edge—part […]