Words cannot discribe what it was like to be there with the deer in such a setting
Tuesday 29 September 2009
Herbert
It was stunning evening and i was feeling brave and i would need to be its the rutting season .. this is as close as i dare get to him at the moment, hes making the most almighty noises.
The Sticky Challenge
AHH Herbert is a tinker.. here he is fooling around with stick .. well branch .. well .. felled tree as if it is confetti. I followed him for a while but he wouldn’t give up and in the end carried it around like a security blanket. UG UG my stick!
Monday 28 September 2009
Basking in the morning Sun
Its not all about big herds and macho Staggs with a hareem of ladies. This young stag has a mate all of his own. and their wandering around like a newly married couple. Absolutly adorable
A happy pair
Its not all about big herds and macho Staggs with a hareem of ladies. This young stag has a mate all of his own. and their wandering around like a newly married couple. Absolutly adorable
Sunday 27 September 2009
Solo deer stagg in rutting season
Isn’t he fantastic, unfortunately this lone Stag is wandering around all alone, he’s a little young to be able to take on the big stags like Herbert, but he’s too old to be part of the herd. o he spends his time .. well eating mainly .. making beds and looking generally spooked when he looks up and sees the paparazzi taking photographs.
Proud Deer Stagg
27.09.2009 Well its Herbert again .. I know, I know.. again!! but he’s just so photogenic. He was actually in a playful mood when I took this photo, picking up branches with his antlers and tossing them around an generally playing for it was worth. He’s a hell o a Character.. well worth the extra walk to see him.
Hertbert making himself known
27.09.2009 When it comes to Alpha Stags Herbert is king of them all at the moment and he’s the first to tell you. He’s making all kinds of back off she’s mine noises defending his doe’s as he marches around.
You an see in the back ground on the of the younger males looking in awe .. and who can blame him .. Herbert is a mighty beast.
You an see in the back ground on the of the younger males looking in awe .. and who can blame him .. Herbert is a mighty beast.
Saturday 26 September 2009
Hearing the call
25.09.2009 Last night was a fantastic September night in Bushy Park (I’m writing this in the morning due to wanting to stay out as late as possible). The park is both incredibly beautiful and scarily noisy at the moment. The Staggs are wandering around trying for a mate and rutting to prove their place, it’s a fantastic time to watch, and capture. I take most of my photography in the evening due to my work commitments but even then there’s normally enough light in the September sun to make the most of these wonderful creatures.
This is one of the younger stag who’s still allowed in one of the herds. The alpha males are getting very protective of their girls at the moment, its the mating season so who can blame them! Many of the younger stags are keeping their heads down or on permanent guard, hoping that the Alpha doesn’t decide to take a disliking to them.
This Deer is responding the call of the Alpha Stagg, a scary noise that’s like a little nudge to say .. hey I’m in charge round here!! And don’t forget it (human or deer ;-)
This is one of the younger stag who’s still allowed in one of the herds. The alpha males are getting very protective of their girls at the moment, its the mating season so who can blame them! Many of the younger stags are keeping their heads down or on permanent guard, hoping that the Alpha doesn’t decide to take a disliking to them.
This Deer is responding the call of the Alpha Stagg, a scary noise that’s like a little nudge to say .. hey I’m in charge round here!! And don’t forget it (human or deer ;-)
Keeping your head down
25.09.2009 There is nothing quite like lounging in the sun. And that’s exactly what this Stag decided to do! This is the Stagg I commonly and affectionately refer to as Tin Tin. He’s a lone soul. And unfortunately I get the feeling that due to his size and a couple of scratches down his side that I think he may have had a run in with Herbert, who now has a harem to protect. Poor Tin Tin.. let’s hope he doesn’t keep a low profile for too much longer.
Thursday 24 September 2009
Standing Tall
24.09.2009 Isn’t he magnificent, and believe me when i say a photo can’t do him justice. This is Deer Stag I call Tin Tin (he would probably hate that name) due to the red tuft of fur he has just below his antlers. Tin Tin has recently been in a fight and this picture was taken the day before .. lets hope he’s ok in this testosterone packed season.
Wednesday 23 September 2009
Herbert Lounging Around
21.09.2009 Well I was late .. that’s the truth, there I said it... i rushed out after work last night later than normal, and was walking with my head held low when i stumbled across Herbert (my name for him and his naughty ways) ... I was so close i couldn’t believe it and was actually a little scared.. he’s a big beast but he let me take a few shots before i got the feeling i was overstaying my welcome
Tuesday 22 September 2009
Who could resist
21.09.2009 Who could resist him, here we stumbled across the main Stag of one of my groups of deer, this fellow is the proud husband of a large harem, toward the middle of Bush Park. He was in a particularly fruity mood today, and had his heart set on romance.
Chaise me, Chaise me!!
21.09.2009 Well I told you... feeling fruity our stag decided that a game of kiss chaise was in order where the doe’s wanted it or not!! , he set about causing no end of commotion.
Sunday 20 September 2009
How to make a bed Deer style
20.09.2009: Firstly find a nice piece of grass, preferably under a tree and in the shade of the days sun. This isn’t just any old grass; this is 2ft long grass! High enough to make you difficult to spot, short enough for you to spot anything coming. Once you found the said grass, make sure your happy with it, you’re going to be sitting here watching the world go round for quite a while
Next use what you were given, cut yourself out a bed, use those antlers that you were given and get right in there tear that grass up and prepare.. Make sure your happy ... and yes .. if you can have a bit of fun to go along with it.
Next use what you were given, cut yourself out a bed, use those antlers that you were given and get right in there tear that grass up and prepare.. Make sure your happy ... and yes .. if you can have a bit of fun to go along with it.
And Relax (p2)
20.09.2009: Now the hard work is done, the bed is made, you can now reap the rewards and sit back, in your comfy bed and relax, watch the word go by and dig in for a hard days tree and conker management.
Saturday 19 September 2009
Hanging Out with the Lads
19.09.2009 : I found them at last, it took me most of the morning but I found them!! Why was it so hard I hear you ask? Well work, in their wisdom, required me to travel.. So travel I did and when I return, and start this new blog, i get up nice and early having spent a week away .. And the deer I had been following for over 3 weeks have decided to move, charming!!
But I found them, i must admit this Saturday morning is panning out to be a nice one, the sun is bright and the grass is dry and everyone seems happy about it.. Except the deer! They all in the shade, It seems they have read and taken note of the pharmaceutical skin cancer campaign flyers and being unable to go the outlet they have opted for the next best thing, some long grass and a shady tree. Very wise!
But I found them, i must admit this Saturday morning is panning out to be a nice one, the sun is bright and the grass is dry and everyone seems happy about it.. Except the deer! They all in the shade, It seems they have read and taken note of the pharmaceutical skin cancer campaign flyers and being unable to go the outlet they have opted for the next best thing, some long grass and a shady tree. Very wise!
Aint no fly’s on me!
19.09.2009 : Its a sad fact that where there are deer, there are inevitably loads .. and loads, and loads of fly’s. But I believe the deer are of a Zen disposition. They choose to ignore, maybe flap a little but ultimately ignore their buzzing companions.
Errm You could have told me!!
19.09.2009 : haha ... it was so funny this young deer wandered a little from the herd and i could see it getting closer and closer to the young horsey people. Then it just looked up and bolted ... managed to get this jut before it made a bid for freedom.
Run, wild and free
19.09.2009 : Actually a little scarily he was running right at me at one point, got my hear going at bit. But camera and me lived through it.. Notice what order I put that in ;-)
Friday 18 September 2009
Welcome to the all new Deer Diary
Hello and welcome to the Bushy Park Deer Diary. Its September and Autumn is upon us, the deer in Bushy Park are getting broody and Staggs a little more aggressive. Over the next weeks and months I will be following one herd of deer in Bushy Park to try and document their lives. Bushy Park is a London park just across the road from Hampton Court Palace.
It’s a beautiful place, and for just under 500 years the deer have been managed in Bushy park to make it a natural retreat not far from the city, and for nearly the same amount of time red deer have found themselves wandering around and being unusually close to their 2 legged counterparts.
There currently are around 320 deer in Bushy Park, split up into a number of herds. I will be following just one of them as young make their way to adulthood and the year moves forward to treat them to a full round of seasons.
I hope you will enjoy it as much as me. My Facination started with these Busy Park deer when i went out and got a camera and started taking some shots, ive only been at it a short while but im utterly hooked.
The below posts are just to bring you up to speed on what the herd have been up to since i started on the 1st of September 2009, we'll take a look at the how the deer progress and begining tommorow, i'll attempt to do a day by day account of their activities.
It’s a beautiful place, and for just under 500 years the deer have been managed in Bushy park to make it a natural retreat not far from the city, and for nearly the same amount of time red deer have found themselves wandering around and being unusually close to their 2 legged counterparts.
There currently are around 320 deer in Bushy Park, split up into a number of herds. I will be following just one of them as young make their way to adulthood and the year moves forward to treat them to a full round of seasons.
I hope you will enjoy it as much as me. My Facination started with these Busy Park deer when i went out and got a camera and started taking some shots, ive only been at it a short while but im utterly hooked.
The below posts are just to bring you up to speed on what the herd have been up to since i started on the 1st of September 2009, we'll take a look at the how the deer progress and begining tommorow, i'll attempt to do a day by day account of their activities.
Calling for a mate
Its September an the Deer in Bushy Park are in their mating season. This male is lounging in the sun coming to terms with thre realities of life and procreation. Unfortunatly the Royal parks are kull'ing deer at the moment to restrict population, lets hope this old male isnt in their sights.
Deer Calf
A Deer Claf following its herd learning the rules of conker hunting and eating... which apear ... if your there first its yours... could be more rules but then im only familia with the human version
Sniffing out conkers
think the deer are getting used to me now, ive sent the last 3 weeks following the same herd at the asme times of day and every time i go they seem to feel more comfortable by my presence, this brave young chap was literally 6ft away .. so close that i even considered changing from a zoom to a standard lens .. very privalidged.
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