Sunday 16 February 2014

Roe and Red

Both deer species on Blacka are native to Britain although they've gone through local and national extinctions over the centuries. But they have more of a claim to occupy the land than rabbits or pheasants for example.
It's unusual that on Blacka the Reds are more common than the Roe and of course easier to see. Having spotted Roe several times lately I was looking out for them again this morning but they're elusive and no luck. When their young are born, usually in May or June they are spotted as with most deer and it's common for them to be twins, even triplets unlike with Reds.

The best pictures I've seen of Roe Deer are on this Flicker site where you can also find many other superb photos of wildlife particularly insects and bugs. The photographer uses the name 'steb1'. He seems to be the same as the one who signs in with that avatar regularly on national newspaper websites to comment below the line on wildlife and environmental matters. He has a background in ecology and he's sometimes to be found supporting  the views of George Monbiot and Mark Fisher, but there's a strong independent strain to his comments reflecting his own direct experience. He is with others, a critic of the conservation industry and its addiction to farm subsidies. The pictures of insects are about the best I've seen.

Although no Roe Deer presented themselves this morning, as I turned round from photographing the lichens on a Rowan I found a small group of hinds had walked quite close behind me.


Some of them appeared surprised to experience the sun, pleased by the warmth but dazzled by the glare.



The stag came along later and followed them towards the lower woodland.





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