had a strange encounter this morning...decided to go to the hide at Weston Turville at first light. Lovely, still - windless - morning. And dark. Very, very dark. As I went through the gate a huge fox - the biggest I have ever seen, with thick winter fur, stood in front of me, lit by the dull streetlamp light, and just stared at me. Straight at me. I stood motionless, not more than five feet from it and it walked forward and sniffed the air before turning and walking slowly in to the wood and disappearing from view almost instantly. A surreal experience indeed....