Here is the fifth of my 1minute movies which I am assembling into a 7 mins week long movie. The garden is full of rabbits at this time of the year. I think we must have at least 100 scattered around and they dig holes in the lawn. They are a nuisance but we put up with them in the knowledge that one day I will probably have to re-turf the whole garden. I can’t deny they are entertaining to watch and a constant reminder that we share our garden with them and lots of other animals. As I write this I can see 4 on the grass in front of me. They have dug a burrow under the summer house with entrances at each of the four sides and it houses a whole family of rabbits – 2 grown ups and at least 4 little-uns. I have also seen the neighbour’s cat waiting to pounce on the little-uns but so far I think they have all survived. In fact, everything seems to go for the baby rabbits. A few days ago I saw a crow attack one as it ran across the field. The rabbits have been the most difficult animal to film. They pick up the slightest movement and are gone into the bushes by the side of the garden. Yesterday I crept to within about 6m of a couple of them but could not get any nearer.
The other character in this garden tale is the resident fox who comes by every few days and hangs out for a bit hoping to catch one of the little-uns but they disappear before she gets anywhere near them. More than likely she has some cubs somewhere but she has yet to show them to us. She criss-crosses her territory picking up scents and occasionally digging something up- probably a worm. I enjoy watching her move, sometimes she looks a bit drunk but there is also something delicate about the way she places his feet – almost like a thoroughbred horse. She looks to be well fed but only rarely do I see him with a rabbit in his mouth. I wish he was a bit more efficient at catching rabbits but she is not fast enough to catch the big-uns. I have seen her pass rabbits only a few metres away – she knows she can’t catch them so she doesn’t bother. They seem to co-exist quite happily together - and so should I.
The other character in this garden tale is the resident fox who comes by every few days and hangs out for a bit hoping to catch one of the little-uns but they disappear before she gets anywhere near them. More than likely she has some cubs somewhere but she has yet to show them to us. She criss-crosses her territory picking up scents and occasionally digging something up- probably a worm. I enjoy watching her move, sometimes she looks a bit drunk but there is also something delicate about the way she places his feet – almost like a thoroughbred horse. She looks to be well fed but only rarely do I see him with a rabbit in his mouth. I wish he was a bit more efficient at catching rabbits but she is not fast enough to catch the big-uns. I have seen her pass rabbits only a few metres away – she knows she can’t catch them so she doesn’t bother. They seem to co-exist quite happily together - and so should I.
SEQUAL - this very afternoon I was creeping round the woods next to the garden when I thought I saw a cat prowling through the undergrowth. I stood still and watched a cub fox poked his head up and continued to rummage for a minute or so before moving off. So he had already learnt to hunt for himself.
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