23rd October – Bushy Park
The mornings have got so dark that I cannot get out on the patch to walk before going to work. This happens every year but I find it really difficult because I just love getting out to see what is about.
So, the last two weekends I have made my way to Bushy Park where the Red Deer are in full rut. Arriving just before daylight the quiet still air was broken by the echoing roars of the males. Following the sounds took me within yards of the guys who are after the “girls” on their local patch! Waiting for enough light to take photos left me with time to watch the antics of both Red and Fallow deer – fascinating! I would not want to be on the receiving end of those antlers! On more than one occasion I was glad to be behind a tree as a Fallow or Red deer went past me just feet away.
There was one male who obviously had his invisible line and anyone or thing that strayed over this line got attacked including a photographer and his tripod! Taking care, being constantly vigilant and observant and fast on foot got the pictures.
October in the UK sees the start of the rutting season for red deer. The rut is a period when the biggest and strongest male (stag) rounds up a group of females (hinds) for mating. Of course every other male deer wants to do the same, but there's only so many females to go around.
In order to maintain control over a group of females the stag must constantly drive away rivals. The stag announces his superiority over other males by constantly bellowing out an echoing roar, which sounds something like a cross between a chainsaw and a burp. I guess if we had to shout for days on end like these guys do we'd end up making a similar noise.
Sometimes shouting is not enough, and when contenders approach the females they need to be chased off. Occasionally fights between males can break out, and this can lead to some serious clashing of those magnificent antlers
Red deer are our largest native land mammals. They can weigh up to 190kg. In fact they're one of only two native species of deer in the UK, the other being the Roe deer. (accessed from http://www.uksafari.com/rd2.htm 23/10/10)
