Our London Safari~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS

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So you think one has to go to Africa to witness wild predator prey interactions? Ha, I say! Just go to central London. And, no I am not talking about the tube strike…..
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Actually, we left Africa and flew to London on the first leg home to The Holler. We were looking forward to a spell of civilization and culture. But it seems, our safari was to continue in London. We checked into a hotel quite near the crowds and hustle of the British Museum, and I looked out our hotel window onto a city park, and this was the sight that greeted me!
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There were four foxes in this family in the center of London. There were magpies too. Occasionally the foxes would snag a magpie which resulted in the magpies giving the foxes holy hell for hours. They would taunt and goad them.
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I was supposed to be going to the British Museum with my hubby, but instead I sat for hours watching the foxes in the Duke of Bedford’s garden. No one was allowed to go in the garden, thank God, and my hotel window only opened about four inches, so there was considerable challenge getting these pics, but I was motivated! I live in Southern California and rarely get to see foxes so it is always a thrill.
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It takes effort learning to hunt,
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and can be quite exhausting.
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Not to mention embarrassing, when the prey decides to become the predator!
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And then there is mum to contend with. She can be such a nag….
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But being almost a teenager, mum is starting to get an idea what she’s in for.
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It’s nice to be a fox family in the Duke of Bedford’s garden,
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if only there was a little more to eat.
Cheers to you from the London fox’s garden~

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255 thoughts on “Our London Safari~”

    1. So grateful for it too. I really am not much a city person, so you have no idea how happy I was that the foxes found me. There is actually quite a lot of wild creatures in London….

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  11. The pictures are stunning (as always). Now you just have to go to the park across from Buckingham Palace and feed the tame squirrels. London is such a great city. I am always looking forward to your posts and pictures. Be safe!

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    1. Plus, I was mesmerized by the whole experience. I was mourning leaving Africa, and fate put these foxes on my London doorstep! It doesn’t get better then this for me!

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    1. I couldn’t get over it, in the big parks maybe yes, at night. But in this dinky park, by the congested museum and all the honking traffic? I hope the Duke’s estate protects them.

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  15. I enjoyed this post very much. Brought a big smile on my face. Thanks!
    The Duke of Bedford must have given up playing “Fox and Hounds”; then feeling guilty about his past sins decided to bequeath the garden to his prey. Thanks again.

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    1. I have no idea. I hope you are right and someone is protecting them. When you see the family bonds, it is incredible, and trust me I watched them for a long time…..

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    1. I hope someone is looking out for them. They weren’t being fed. They were fully wild. But there was no trespassing in the park which was hopeful to me. They disappeared entirely when the gardener did his bit~

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  18. How adaptable animals are. What an unexpected circus you stumbled upon. You captured such wonderful images with their fur contrasting against the pebbles/rock and grass. And you cot their personalities.
    (But hope there was some time for the museum, too – it’s so wonderful…unless crowded..then the foxes win!)

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    1. I went to the City of London Museum instead and was transfixed by the histories contained there. I have been to the BM several times and it is truly remarkable.

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  21. Such lovely foxes, and I just love the vibrant color of the mom! Cindy, you are so special. Wherever you go, there are animals who go out of there way to put on a show for you! I love your narrative and the images truly tell a story here. <3 ~Lynn

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  22. You’re in my city! These foxes look very healthy, sometimes London foxes look very thin and mangy. Lovely to see, especially at a time when the Conservative party are trying to reverse the ban on fox hunting.

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    1. You live in such a lovely city. I keep coimng back here. I just instantly connect with foxes and always have, maybe partly because I so rarely see them, but more because they seem so elusive, and elusive seems intelligent to me.

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    1. I don’t know, but I thank God for all creatures great and small. I have so much to learn from them about life. You must be going to the Kalahari soon now. Lucky man.

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  25. Some animals do know how to make themselves as home even cæose to our houses – I have seen foxes in both Copenhagen and Hamburg too – I guess they haven’t big problems finding food in our surroundings… 🙂

    Both the fox and the magpie are so beautiful – very well captured… 🙂

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    1. Yes somewhat similar to the coyotes in north America who are amazing adapters, but foxes are more elusive, less bold then coyotes. On the rare occasions I see one, or in this case four, everyday, I am transfixed.

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  27. Love this whole adventure and the foxes and magpies are endearing..and enduring for putting up with each other in such a civilized manner😂😂😂thank u for posting this, warmed the cockles of my heart❤️😺😸👍🏽👌🏽u live in Southern California? Whereabouts? I live in Bakersfield, CA

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    1. I live in a rural area north east of San Diego county. We spent New Years this past year in The Padre Hotel in Bakersfield. Loved the historic building. We stopped in Bakersfield on the first trip I went on in my life with my parents when I was around five. I remember swimming in the pool! Small world~

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      1. Very small😉😺😸yup..that Padre is an intriguing place..supposed to be ghosts roaming around..😳👻👻👻💀many years ago they had a sleepy bar on ground floor where we’d go and listen to this old jazz pianist play our hearts out–he was amazing😎😻😺😸👍🏽😻💫

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  29. You were very lucky to see those beautiful foxes Cindy 😀
    I have lived in a country with many foxes and you don’t see them very often even you live close to them. What a wonderful experience 😀

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    1. Yes, they don’t trust humans much. I suppose for good reason. I have seen videos of very human friendly Arctic foxes though. Maybe they have not been preyed on by humans as much~

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  31. Superb photos Cindy! They look so charming and playful, just like dogs. Their coats are glossy too, not like the mangey ones we sometimes find.

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    1. I used to be afraid of, dislike, coyotes too for much the same reasons, until I lived amongst large packs of them for many years and learned to understand and respect them. No animal can approach the cruelty and destructiveness of humans. We really can’t credibly criticize animals for killing when we as a species accomplish it so constantly, for so little reason, in such huge numbers. I was struck by the family bonds among the foxes. The obvious joy in each other’s company and the connectedness among them. I respect your right to a different opinion though.

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      1. I’ve no wish to fall out here. You’re right, humans are destructive too. I’m not too fond of the human race a lot of the time. People do tend to dignify foxes beyond their deserts though, and to glamourise them too much. They aren’t noble, they’re scavengers. Nothing wrong with that. It’s part of nature to have things cleaned up. NObody glamourises vultures though.

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  35. Cindy,
    I guess they smelled the scent of the californian foxes and felt the hot breath on their faces.
    RBBA @ wortpresse1.wordpress.com

    Happy stay in UK 🙂

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      1. Here in North America we do not have this kind of animals and birds which are on your pictures. To be perfectly precise, we have something similar but not the same. Even squirrels are looking differently.

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    1. Sie sind wie eine schone Person Gislinde! Wir sind wieder zuruck nach Deutschland gehen im November! Wir werden Wurzberg , Regensberg, Pasau und Melk! Ich bin aufgeregt, um zu sehen! <3 <3

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  45. So much fun. I’m glad you were motivated. We do have foxes in Fulton but they don’t come out and play very often and the three red foxes I have spotted were all in winter. The gray fox that used to live near, I think has succumbed to old age or loneliness — the red foxes didn’t like him around. Thanks for sharing. Did your husband enjoy the museum?

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    1. He did very much! We have both been many times, but one always find new exhibits to fascinate and educate. It is an incredible museum. You are so lucky to have these foxes around you. I would be quite busy with my camera! <3

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  46. Love the shot of the fox lying down! We don’t see too many foxes where I am, either, but two of my neighbors said they saw two young ones earlier in the week. They look enough like a dog that I imagine Dallas would want to play with them!

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