The doe is watching the dogs pass by
The deer in our local forest are roe deer, the most numerous
of Britain’s native deer, and at this time of the year their coats have changed
from the dark grey or brown of winter to a rich russet. It is quite usual for
us to see one or two roe deer when we take the dogs walking, particularly towards
evening. The deer are watchful but not easily startled, only taking flight if
one of the dogs gets within twenty yards. Then they bound away and melt into
the trees.
Here she's watching Barry, trying to understand what he's doing
We have often seen deer lying down in patches of sunlight. This
gives them an opportunity to chew the cud. Usually they lie where they have
been feeding only if they feel secure. One of the places we have seen them is
about a hundred yards from the path we follow.
It's difficult to get buck and doe together in one frame!
In the last three weeks, since late August, we have regularly
seen a young buck and doe. They are keeping company because this is the
breeding season. The rut takes place from July to September. Does usually bear
twins which are born the following spring, between April and June. In
exceptionally good conditions a doe may have triplets.
He looks as though he's saying, 'What are you looking at?'
Roe deer are the only
deer that delay implantation so that the young are born when conditions are
favourable, in that the weather is more clement and there is sufficient food and
fresh plant growth. Others among the one hundred or so mammals that delay
implantation (embryonic diapause) include
stoats, badgers and rodents.
Spotting them is sometimes difficult . . .
Can you see him now?
Here he is lying down
Moving away unhurriedly
I found a useful site that shows how to calculate the age of a buck by its antlers and I think ‘our’ buck is a two-year-old.
The antlers are shed each year and unusually for British deer, the roe buck casts and regrows them in the winter when good food is not readily available.
I am linking to Camera Critters.
