Thank you Bella, your kind comments are always much appreciated!

The 2024D vixen assisted with the care of the 2025 litter, but she is the daughter of the matriarch, whereas the 2022C vixen, now almost 4 years old, is unrelated, and she hasn't bred previously. The former may perform a similar role this year, but the latter will be driven away.

(unrelated, but seemingly paired up with the 2024B dog fox). I have been unable to determine if either is pregnant, but subordinate vixens may be unable to carry foetuses to term if the dominant female in the social group succeeds in producing live offspring...

However, they will need to be tolerated by the dominant pair, so they may be driven away temporarily when the cubs are young. Two of the other vixens may have mated (so far as I know), 2024D (one of this pair's offspring) and 2022C...

It is unusual for the same pair to breed more than once, so three consecutive years is quite significant. The eight cubs that they have produced so far have all thrived, and several have returned. Two from the 2024 litter are still present, one vixen and one dog fox...

The first litter was born on 10th February, and the second on 19th-20th. I suspect that she might deliver at the earlier end of this range, but the cubs won't be visible until the beginning of April. She has been paired with the same dog fox throughout (2023F)...

Thank you! If you would like to see them, there are see many more images on my web site, films on my YouTube channel and more still photographs in my Avalon gallery.

Thank you!

This ethical and skilful practice has earned his work high commendation in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

His portfolio, expanded through travels in continental Europe, is defined by an authentic, hands-off approach: nearly every image is taken in the wild without hides, tripods, or remote devices, always prioritising the subject's wellbeing...

It did.

It wasn't! And it was the second swallowee!

Thank you - it was a complete surprise!

Thank you Ian, much appreciated! David

If you would like to see the rest of this sequence of photographs you will find them here: www.davidelement.net/birds200.htm.

Thanks - you are welcome!

Thank you Rob - much appreciated!