And the final example - here, the fox appears to be scent-marking around a metre or so from what I’m picking as the scent-marking tree.
I’d set-up a trail-camera here because I thought the embankments in front looked like prime territory for a fox-den. That, and the musky fox-smell made me think I’d found their home. I was wrong, but at least I’ve finally found a scent-tree.
(3/3)
Here’s the next example of scent-marking the exact-same tree. I have to say I was rather expecting a more impressive landmark to be used for scent-marking, not this pathetic little shrub. Clearly foxes have very different tastes in real-estate to me.
(And of course another difference between us is that I don’t scent-mark my real estate.)
Note that in this example the fox squats instead of cocking a leg.
(2/3)
My understanding is that foxes regularly return to scent-mark key points in their territory. I’ve been keen to find one of these locations in my trail-camera scouting, to give me a location where I can confidently predict foxes returning to allow me to set-up a camera-trap.
With the memory card I brought back from this camera today, it looks like I’ve finally found a scent-marking location. More examples of scent-marking to follow…. (1/3)
This one isn’t as clear, but it appears to be geophagia in a cheetal deer (Axis axis) in the same location- again, eating the slightly saltier soil on the exposed embankment.
Captured on one of my trail-cameras, this appears to be an example of geophagia in Eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus). The individual at the right of the frame appears to be nibbling on the soil of the embankment - presumably salts are leaching through the soil, leaving the exposed bank relatively high in salts.
Scheyville National Park, out to Sydney’s west.
I’m claiming this as my best result so far from stalking deer - a young cheetal deer (Axis axis) in Scheyville National Park, out to Sydney’s west.
I’ve had one significantly better result from lying-in-wait, but this was the best I’ve got from actively heading towards the deer while in camouflage.
I don’t recall how close I was, but it was a 400mm lens.
When I was out in the national park last week in camouflage, hoping to land some photos of deer or foxes, I had the experience of having a mob of 40-50 kangaroos come bounding past me at speed.
They clearly hadn’t noticed me, and it was a surprisingly exhilarating experience to suddenly be in the middle of something like a ton of kangaroo flesh thumping past.
And THIS is the sort of shot I’ve been searching for in three Saturdays in a row of getting into the national park before dawn to try to set-up for decent views of the local feral deer population.
I think this is a chital deer (Axis axis), despite the lack of spots on this particular individual.
Scheyville National Park, out to Sydney’s west.
A bit noisy in the blacks - the light was still low and it was a bit foggy.
#wildlife #WildlifePhotograpghy #deer #FeralAnimals #feral #scheyville
Looks like this one didn’t load, so posting again - a very healthy-looking red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Scheyville National Park, out to Sydney’s west.
And the last of the discoveries from the trail cameras for tonight - I was surprised to see a fawn in this video. I had thought that mating season was just starting for the deer, but this little fellow looks to be at least a few weeks old. I guess the Sydney winter is pretty mild compared to where this things come from, so maybe they breed all year.
#wildlife #scheyville #TrailCamera #TrailCameras #deer #fawn
Gum on China’s Shoe