Protection

Everybody would like to see young deer calves especially at that stage during the first twelve weeks when their coats are flecked with white. But the hinds take such pains to keep them hidden that for most of the summer, especially July and August, you could be forgiven for thinking there are no deer around at all. My efforts have been mostly no better than anybody else’s. And the reason for that is largely the very same reason why they are so attracted to Blacka in the first place. The range and extent of the cover provided is so great that it’s easier for the animals to stay hidden than in any other comparable part of the local landscape.

But very early in the morning close to the edge of the woodland you have the best chance and there’s one place where I always look. I was lucky last year to see two calves in the very same place and that’s where my eyes are drawn. This morning there was a shape just visible even from some 500 yards away and the camera zoom confirmed one hind.

Even from that distance she was staring hard in my direction. What chance does anyone have of getting closer when they are in such a protective mode? Not much and despite some persistence and getting a lot closer the best that could be seen was the heads (or just ears) of 5 animals and only a guess that two might be calves.

Soon after this they had disappeared into the woodland. The vegetation around here must be a godsend to them; you have to remember that their behaviour is determined by an instinctive need to avoid much more alarming predators than a man with a camera.