Monday, 19 August 2013

Numbers

Roy Taylor of RSPB told us that at the moment there are not enough deer to manage the land properly hence their reliance on farm livestock and, of course the bonanza of farm subsidies. Hmm...


Well the local red deer on Blacka are doing their best. I'm revising my previous statement that there have been three new young deer born on Blacka this summer. I now believe there are at least four and possibly five. From a distance the group on the moor seemed to show five mature hinds but at least three and likely four smaller animals. Then a few minutes later this animal appeared by itself just behind me anxious to join the others. I thought a yearling.



But looking closely at the picture there are flecks of white still just visible on its coat. The white camouflaging speckles disappears after three months. It's quite possible that the hinds give birth at different times. Could this one have been born in May and others four or more weeks later?



How Many?

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