Early Warmth

You get to know what deer like. I've not bothered looking seriously for them over a successsion of dim damp mornings. But they like the warmth of the early morning sun and favour certain sheltered spots. So sure enough six of them were browsing glad to have the sun on their backs. One was a stag, probably fairly young, with unimpressive antlers a bit the worse for wear. This reminds us that we are now in March, the month when antlers start to fall. Two of the hinds could have been mother and child each showing that amazingly attractive combination of long soft ears and deep brown eyes.

A fellow walker this morning reported talking with a man on Blacka with imposing binoculars and some wildlife interest. He had told her that deer are dangerous!!! But he had not said in what way. Dangerous perhaps to the ideas of conservationists who believe farm animals are the only way of managing the countryside