The Deer and the Butterfly

The colours are still awesome out there at the moment, with greens and yellows everywhere. It wont be long before the greens turn a golden brown as the autumn sets in and the yellows disappear though. So I made the most of it!

I asked this fallow doe if she had seen any wild boars on her travels and she said "they went thatta way!"


A little further on and I came across another doe with her fawn. I asked them the same question and they said....


I think they went in there?


I must be losing it!

I didn't find any wild boars, but I did come across a Speckled Wood butterfly resting on some yellow flowers. I think its a female and she has obviously come a cropper with a bird, which has taken part of her wing.


Rob

Look out for Bambi!

Our roe and fallow deer have given birth to their fawns, so please be aware of this if walking your dog off lead in the forest.
The doe will leave her fawn in the grass, sometimes near the edge of a track while she wanders off in search of food. This is not neglect and the fawn has not been abandoned as the doe needs to feed to keep her strength up and to produce milk for her suckling fawn.
Fallow deer have one fawn after a gestation period of nearly nine months, whereas roe deer have between one and three fawns after a gestation period of ten months. The mortality rate for roe deer fawns is much higher than fallow deer fawns and one reason is due to their weight and size at birth.
A roe fawn can weigh as little as 1.5kg, whereas a fallow fawn weighs between 4 - 5kg.

If you come across one, please don't disturb it or stay around it for too long as the doe will be anxiously watching from a distance and it will also be very stressful for the fawn. Thanks.

Deer in the Forest of Dean...

Roe Deer - Buck


Roe Deer - Doe


Fallow Deer - Buck


Fallow Deer - Doe


Fallow Deer - Doe & Fawn


Melanistic Fallow Fawn


Rob

Fallow Deer (fawn)

I went out with the intention of looking for wild boar, but alas, even after covering a very large area, I was not lucky this time!
I did manage to find a rather large print though!





I carried on mooching about (quietly) and heard something heavy. I got myself into a good position, looking out towards a good photo spot and waited.
This young fella walked out and started grazing. Couldn't believe it!





Then, about 5 mins later this little one walked out with mum. If you are wondering why he/she is black, it is melanistic!
Melanism is caused by an increase in dark pigment and I was lucky that I photographed its dad during the rut of 2009.
He was also melanistic and the dominant buck in the area where I photographed this fawn.



Rob