Red Hind.

Thank goodness for some warm weather at long last. After a lack of photo opportunities during the last few weeks I seem to have amassed over 500 images in the last two days to sort through so here is just a taster of  one of today's wildlife encounters.

f/9: 1/500: ISO 400 using 70-300 lens and cropped.

 An inquisitive Red Hind keeping an eye on the 'watcher'.

f/10: 1/400: ISO 400 using 70-300 lens and cropped.

For a taste of some of the other wildlife seen please check out the Demoiselle, Damsel and Dragon post on FABirding.

Wherever you are have a glorious wildlife watching weekend.  FAB. 

Linking to:
Saturday's Critters
Through My Lens
image-in-ing

Who's Watching Who?

An image taken in late July that reminds me that I need to find some time to revisit the park to check out the Red Deer activity.

Ducklings.

Another very windy day so I took a short stroll around Heron Pond in Bushy Park and spent a while watching the youngsters on the water with their mothers. First up was Mrs Mallard and her two ducklings.

Then my attention was drawn towards the two very young Tufted ducklings tagging on behind their mother.

This one decided to play peek-a-boo behind mum while its sibling (below) was slightly more adventurous.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday.

Alert and Inquisitive.

Red hinds with their yearlings in Bushy Park. For once I wasn't the centre of their attention!

Walking on Water.

During a brief stroll around Heron Pond in Bushy Park on Monday I spent some time watching two of our aquatic species from the Ralidae family that have no difficulty 'walking on water' .... when it's frozen.

First up was the [Common] Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) purposely stalking across the ice and typically carrying its tail high which it flicks up and down as it walks. Like other rails their long toes are spread well apart to provide them with excellent stability on such a slippery surface.

The other species was the [Eurasian] Coot (Fulica atra) with its distinctive white frontal shield and the lobed flaps of skin on its toes (see close up below). When fighting one another their feet play an important role in both attack and defence and I'll share a couple of recent images in a future post.

When one individual stepped off the ice into a small area of unfrozen water it was interesting to see how it gripped the ice ledge with its sharp toenails and used its wings to provide the impetus to regain its footing back on the thin ice.  FAB.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday.

More Reds.

A few more images from my sessions during the past two months with the Red Deer in Bushy Park.

Mother and her fawn.

No description necessary.

Totally relaxed.

Red Fawn.

This Autumn I seem to have collected a lot of photos of the Red Deer in Bushy Park so here are a few images of one of the fawns enjoying some freedom but not too far from its mother.

For some views of the Fallow Deer, please click the link to my other blog.  FAB.

Linking to NATURE NOTES hosted by Michelle.

Flying Around.

A very windy walk around Heron Pond in Bushy Park today. Certainly not ideal conditions for capturing birds in flight but the camera rose to the challenge.

Mallard preparing for splashdown.

The pond is home to a large number of Black-headed Gulls of various ages now sporting their winter plumage. Above is a 1st-winter still carrying some of its juvenile wing colours and black tail band.

By way of comparison above is an adult BHG in full winter garb.

Occasionally something much larger drops in. I often have difficulty identifying the juvenile larger gulls so this could be a Great Black-backed based on the features shown in the next image BUT I'll wait to hear what the experts say. 

 And finally a fly past by a Mute Swan.

Wishing everyone a wonderful wildlife watching weekend, wherever you are.  FAB.

Linking to Saturday's Critters and I'D-Rather-B-Birdin'.

Fallow in hiding.

Over the past few weeks the vegetation in the park has changed into its autumnal hues and the formerly lush green bracken now provides excellent camouflage for the Fallow Deer as they continue to browse on any patches of green beneath their feet. 

 

A brief visit earlier this week provided a brief unscheduled session with a buck and a couple of hinds who only indicated their presence when a head popped up to check out the 'watcher'. 

I have mentioned before that the Fallow Deer come in a range of colours and this young very pale fawn (below) was quite conspicuous once she decided to move around.

The buck spent a lot of time feeding with his head low down but eventually provided a nice pose. FAB.

Linking to Nature Notes and Outdoor Wednesday.

Play Fighting.

Just a couple of younger Fallow Bucks having a bit of harmless fun, testing out their skills, while another looks on.

This encounter only lasted a few moments ... all good practice for the future.  FAB.

Linking to Saturday's Critters.

Strutting his stuff.

Following on from my previous post, Cooling Off, this Red Deer stag, after rooting around in the waterside vegetation, suddenly decided to show off by strutting through the water towards the far end of Heron Pond..

He finally re-emerged from the water just 30 feet from where I was standing, partially camouflaged behind a large tree trunk, and proceeded to amble slowly but purposefully in my direction. I'll admit that my heart rate skipped a few beats as he got closer and ....

... maybe just a bit too close for comfort as I could feel the air vibrate as he spoke!  

Needless to say he had other matters on his mind and totally ignored me and all the other nearby watchers as he wandered away. FAB.

Fallow Bucks.

Unlike other deer species the coat colours of the Fallow Deer (Dama dama) can vary from very dark brown, sometimes almost black, through to pale chestnut and even white. I managed to take a peek at this mixed gathering in Bushy Park earlier this week.

The pale coloured but healthy looking dominant buck was very attentive amongst a large mixed herd. Unlike the Red Deer during the rut there were quite a few younger males resting or wandering around the periphery of this gathering but I didn't witness any serious clashes. The big buck just made his intentions clear and the others kept their distance. 

Have a wonderful wildlife watching weekend, wherever you are.  FAB.

Linking to Camera Critters and Saturday's Critters.

Cooling Off.

Earlier this month in Bushy Park on a warm, sunny day a few Red Deer were taking advantage of the cool water and this mature stag seemed very chilled out.

Further along the pond two hinds were doing exactly the same.