Whatever..

.. the weather: wild animals are out in it all hours. This year all my sightings of deer around the rucking period have been of small groups.

One stag with two or three hinds; no more.  Other years there have been larger groups. Why should that be? It could be that the weather has kept them to the more sheltered parts of the woodland. It could be that there have been two separate groups in opposite parts of Blacka.

There were more hinds than this some weeks ago. Always at the back of your mind you can't forget that there are those who would want to harm these lovely animals. Not long ago a simple snare was found on a deer track. Regular walkers must be on our guard.