A little later as we walked along the trail south of the lighthouse, Exile #3 spotted a fox a just to the side of the trail on an exposed hillside. I immediately started trying to get some photos (unfortunately it was running directly away from us). A few seconds later I heard E5N1 point it out to the rest of the group as I continued to take disappointing photos.
A few minutes later we were stopped at a bench when the same fox crossed the trail right next to us and passed onto the ocean side. Again I grabbed a couple of rather poor photos. I was a little disappointed, but not as much as Exile #4 who had missed both encounters. However, I had an idea that maybe it was going to emerge again a little further, so we carried on to the point where the trail next brushes the top of the cliffs and I loitered for a while.
Sure enough, the fox emerged and ran up the trail back the way we had come. Again, I mostly got the rear view, but I was much happier with these shots. Exile #4 saw it this time too.
As far as I know, it is the first gray fox I've seen. They coexist here with red foxes, which we have seen a couple of times here in Maine.
Since I misidentified the eider [thanks Dad]- I suppose I am the loon!
Top left looks like a Eider. We saw some recently off Anglesey.
ReplyDeleteHa! I usually check these things, but I was too excited to get to the fox. I made an edit to the post!
DeleteI should also have said the fox pictures were great!
ReplyDeleteFact-checking before praise - as it should be! Thanks (for both!)
DeleteFox!!! <3 There are foxes here but I see them only very rarely.
ReplyDeleteYes - all my previous sightings here in the US have been fairly distant. The previous best was while running, but never anything like this before.
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