Forgehouse Photography Dublin

Olly the Otter and friends,

Spring is here!  Please, Please, Keep your dog on a short lead so that it does not bother wildlife.

The quick Duck is pursued by a Water-spaniel as the owner walks away.

A guilty look.

 

A Bee with a hangover posed for me then flew drowsily off.

A busy bee with what appears to be his extraction tool extended.

新年快乐鼠年

Xīnnián kuàilè shǔ nián

Dodder rats tell even bigger tales, anything to distract Harry Heron who gave the poor old rats a hard time.

Ratty mesmerized by the Cows Parsley or is it really rice pudding.

East of Rathfarnham rd Bridge traffic lights you will see the beautifully painted control box which indicates how close you are to the River Dodder a magical place where it all happens for nature lovers, photographers and talented artists

One Cub watches me while the other sees mother has a problem.

Or annoying tick Ah! right there.

Two very early photos of our popular Dodder Vixen, known as Grandma or Granny fox.  2008 – 2021.

When I first spotted her with the obvious damaged right ear in the same spot April 2009. Some time after she had discovered the swans. Granny Fox is apparently missing from her usual spot on the riverbank Jan 2021. She will be greatly missed by both fans and photographers who followed her progress over the years.

Dodder regulars have fond memories of Larry Staunton and his care for wildlife on the river. Many will remember his kindness to our vixen known as Granny, or Grandma fox. Larry’s regular appearance would have been a welcome sight on a cold winters evening for the vixen who lived a relatively long  life at the riverside.

The Swans once patrolled against all who sought to drink from this precious resource.

The thirsty cub can relax while enjoying a drink now the Swans have passed on.

Granny Vixen tolerantly shared this spot with a very grumpy and  greedy Heron.
The 500mm lens makes them appear to to be much closer together than they really are.

 An ever greedy Heron took the Vixen’s Christmas ham and didn’t know how to tackle it.
I was told by others with more patience than I that he got it down eventually. I have also heard that he is no more after receiving injuries while taking one baby duckling too many.

My 150_500 Sigma Lens enables a discrete view of the multitasking young Vixen feeding and grooming her cubs.  They seem to get milk on their coats when feeding.

The Cub’s dad looks more like a grizzly bear when sitting which he obviously does a lot.
Unlike the Vixen, Busy Mother to the three Cubs. Although looks like he can rouse himself
to the odd scrap. the cub looks like he can hear what I am saying about his daddy.

The lazy fox doesn’t need to excavate a den for his family when he has friends with claws like a JCB digger. Many creatures along the Dodder bank benefit from the hard work of previous generations of Badgers.

One of the local Badgers now living happily in another part of the wider Dodder Valley.
Thanks to Badger Brian who facilitated this portrait.

I met this lovely young Badger, Certainly knew where he wanted to go.

This chap is certainly not impressed with the grapes he found, that is until Mrs Badger treads them with her feet and they have fermented on the oak  then he will get the complex red and black fruit aromas.

Badgers and Coyotes have been known to hang out together as the fox can chase down prey once the badger has dug it up.

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Our older Vixen would seem to be a proud Granny to the three cubs.

Mother (left) and Daughter enjoy a family row.

Being a Mother the Vixen senses this little cub is not coming on as it should as does the bro watching intently.

Little chap has his paw round his slow brother hoping for a reaction.

Two play, One seems a little slow and the center one has only half a tale.

Trying to get a reaction from the quiet one.

He seems delighted when the quiet one bites  his paw as Mother looks on,

Wait for me.

They stop to watch.

The Vixens still spend much of their time in the usual spot but for some weeks the cubs have been missing. Could the mother have moved them away from the river bank to a more remote and safe place. This has never happened in previous years…
It is unlikely that photographers on the other side of the river would have bothered the Vixen or cubs. . We have since learned that they had relocated to a nearby friendly garden.

It was time to leave.

Duke just wishes he was a Fox.

Family fun.

I suspect we have a young Vixen. Always lingers in a sunny spot. ?

Going back a few months..

A 150-600 Sigma lens enables us to probe  way up the far river-bank into deep cover and see the clever vixen with her new cub.

Playful moment.

Alone but Unafraid.

Venturing down to the waiting cameras.

After the first day down on the riverbank bedtime was never going to be easy.
The cub reluctant to leave curled up in a ball so Mum couldn’t get a grip, she eventually  tries to pull the little scamp away by the tail.

All’s forgiven.

Meal time for a hungry Fox cub on the River Dodder.

Another intimate moment.

Playing with a plant pot near the den.  Children love to play with empty pots and pans.

At the riverbank   “Aw Mum the Ducks are watching”

About to pounce.

So excited!

Something very special in the roots. ” It’s here somewhere”

Late May.  Much to the delight of visiting photographers the cub drinks  and explores the waters edge. Today looking more like a young fox.

Vixen and Cub.

Wildlife photographers anticipate the cub’s appearance at the River Dodder.

The Vixen earlier when Eating for Two in winter Snow on the river Dodder

It is nice when visiting photographers are polite to curious passers bye who are also interested in the wildlife.

Last years Cub above has been at the den baby-siting and playing with the new arrival while the Vixen gets time to herself on the sunny riverbank.

Mr Heron spears a fine trout on a late evening visit to the Rathfarnham weir.

Many of the earlier images were taken with a Nikon D7000 and 80 x 200 ED lens.
22nd  August. Just above the weir. A loud squeal alerted us this evening.

Dodder River Rat Bites Heron. A hot dinner fights back!

The greedy Heron took on a big Rat which fought back tenaciously biting and hanging on to a vulnerable spot. It was the size of a well fed cat.

Adult Rat swings off  Heron.

 

Injured Heron Loses Rat.

The Heron then dropped it into the water and a probable escape.

Angry Heron  attacks the rat again.

The heron quickly recovered and followed in pursuit down the weir to grab it again.
You’d think the rat was hanging on for dear life?  He almost made it to the wall, almost.

It’s I Phones out as appreciative walkers spot the Vixen with her Cubs on the opposite river-bank. The river’s flow here may change but it’s width is constant.

 

Fox Cub poses

 

Times Up, Vixen   breaks up photo shoot

  
This riverside regular wonders what all the fuss is about.
At the rear of the den.

The pups quickly settle down for an orderly lunch.

The Vixen shelters from the hail-storm to watch photographers getting drowned.

The heron.

Ratty. Catching it is the easy bit.

The Dodder Heron fussily tenderises and then drowns a rat before swallowing it.

Mole and Badger had the kettle on. I wonder If the Heron is partial to Toad.
In The “Wind In The willows” we are told how particular they were in whom they spoke to.

The greedy Heron takes up a few eels and a few more.

Greed can be ugly.

Exposure settings are complicated When two quite different birds fill the frame.

The Cormorant ignored the Heron when he hops onto a rock and ruffles his plumage.

 

The Heron just looks the other way when the Cormorant performs. Apparently the Cormorant kills and injures more fish that it can eat.

The Kingfisher prefers to hunt from branches just above the water.

More  Kingfisher pics on the Kingfisher page.

The Heron. Deep powerful strokes keep this rather large bird airborne

A playful but careless fox slips into the River.

Welcome back brother.

The waiting Fox and Swan pose nicely for me. Together but apart  on The River Dodder

The Swan needs to know what’s on the water and under the water.

She even goes down for a closer look and perhaps an angry  peck.

Up pops the Mandarin Duck.

“Don’t drink our water” says the Swan “It’s a precious resource”

The swans were fed regularly and they appeared to gang up on the fox when he went after some of the bread on his side of the river.

The Fox’s frustration. He bites through a branch

I think they got the message or have they seen it all before?

On a cold winters day people found it difficult to feed the swans and ignore the little Fox.

‘That’s my spot’ says the Swan.

The Cormorant poses for the photographer.

The Local swan is wondering  What’s so special about the Cormorant.

Lunch break at the Dodder. Don’t show the sandwich bag unless you intend to share

The Little Grebe lives on the plentiful supply of minnows and even some sticklebacks.

A lucky capture as the Mandarin duck nearly lands on top of me.

 

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