The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and the one-eyed Fox of Villa Pamphilj
We’ve just arrived at Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome. I don’t see Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers very often but I’ve got used to just how tiny they are now. When we hear a woodpecker calling and I see a small bird, little bigger than a sparrow, I know what it is:
![Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - Villa Pamphilj - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Villa-Pamphilj-The-Hall-of-Einar-5961-725x483.jpg)
They are quite tricky to photograph when there are leaves on the trees, as they are often in constant shade. They are delightful to see, but this photograph counts as a ‘record shot’ only.
We are only there for a minute when a couple gesture to us. There’s a Fox in the park. It’s tiny; the smallest Fox I’ve ever seen:
![Fox - Villa Pamphilj - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Villa-Pamphilj-The-Hall-of-Einar-5982-725x483.jpg)
It has amazing grace and poise:
![Fox - Villa Pamphilj - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Villa-Pamphilj-The-Hall-of-Einar-5983-725x483.jpg)
I love the big ears and whiskers.
![Fox - Villa Pamphilj - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Villa-Pamphilj-The-Hall-of-Einar-5967-725x483.jpg)
And we can just see its tooth protruding.
![Fox - Villa Pamphilj - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Villa-Pamphilj-The-Hall-of-Einar-5965-725x483.jpg)
It’s only when it turns to face us that we can see that it only has one eye.
![Fox - Villa Pamphilj - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Villa-Pamphilj-The-Hall-of-Einar-5968-725x483.jpg)
I feel so sad that it’s got such a bad injury. The other Fox which lived in the park recently died as the result of a dog attack. The names Olimpia and Giglio were given to the Foxes here and they were frequently filmed, photographed and fed by local residents.
![Fox - Villa Pamphilj - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Villa-Pamphilj-The-Hall-of-Einar-5988-725x483.jpg)
I hope this one will recover from its injury, find another mate and thrive in the Park. They were well-known local attractions. Now, this one sits, tiny, injured and alone.