Damn, a Damselfly. More specifically a magnicifent Willow Emerald Damselfly (Lestes viridis, Houtpantserjuffer). A beautiful subject and I do like the photograph, but it is not what I had intented to photograph last weekend.
The plan was to spend three early mornings and two evenings with the fox family. After a fruitless early morning on Wednesday, my euphoria had turned into a slight fear. A fear that turned into reality on Friday. I sat at the den for 4 hours without the slightest sight of red fur. A closer inspection showed neither fresh prey remnants nor fresh fox excrement: the fox family had moved to another den!
Although I had been very careful all the time by keeping a good distance to the den and having a stiff wind blowing towards me, I assume the fox mum must have sniffed my presence and it clearly did not like the smell of me. With cubs that small, the whole household is moved to a safer location at the slightest feel of danger. I spent hours searching the terrain but could not find anything that even remotely resembled a fox den. I guess I have to accept that the foxy season will be limited to only one morning session this year. Hopefully better luck next year, when I will take even more caution in order to assure myself of more than one opportunity.
Willow Emerald Damselfly; Canon 5D Mark II w. 150/2.8 macro; 1/8000s at F4 and ISO200; handheld
