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:

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:

It has amazing grace and poise:

I love the big ears and whiskers.

And we can just see its tooth protruding.

It’s only when it turns to face us that we can see that it only has one eye.

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.

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.