While preparing our meal for today and constantly looking out our many windows and French doors in our cozy log home this brisk fall day I noticed a flash of red/orange up by our old chicken pen by the old water bath area. I thought it may be a local barn cat I have seen on occasion before. However the tail looked too bushy and it was carried high and more parallel to the ground unlike a domestic cat.
It was just a brief glance. I have seen that color and flash of orange disappearing into the brushy area along an access path I have cut in through our property and woods before. It has been some time but I know fox, coyote, bobcats,coon and fisher have traveled thru here many times in the past. Many tracks, droppings I have found over my years living in the woods. Many kills have shown their frequent visits here as well.
In fact the last goose and duck we had for many years were killed by a bobcat and fisher. Always a beautiful sight to see nature come alive so close to you. It does have its down sides with predators so close all the time. I had several grey squirrels feeding at our back yard bird feeder this morning and I had just put some fresh nuts that I gathered yesterday to place in the backyard. They were busy running back and forth eating some and burying some in their travels.
I saw the red fox emerge and dash into the brush from another one of our paths that I could see it just briefly. Maybe hoping to grab a squirrel he could smell. He came back in sight for a minute, peed on something briefly. I could see it lift its leg from my binoculars then continued out of sight around a bend in an adjoining path. Sure made for a more enjoyable morning on a Thanksgiving day.
I hope everyone has a great day with family, friends or even if you are dining alone. I have done that a few times in my life and I enjoyed it just as much as usually I am out on the line far from home during those times.
