MOCCAS DEER PARK, HEREFORDSHIRE
The small Herefordshire village of Moccas is home to an important UK National Nature Reserve - Moccas Deer Park. The Park is ancient in orgin and was landscaped during 1778 by Lancelot 'Capabilty' Brown. It is not known how long the fallow deer have been kept by the Moccas estate; they were almost certainly introduced to Britain by the Normans in the 11th century. Historical records dated 1671 show Henry Vaughan of Moccas sent a number of fallow deer to his cousin the Earl of Cork [Ireland] who had recently built a manor house with landscaped parkland.
Yesterday I needed to photograph some of the ancient oak trees in the Park for the report I am writing on my insect survey work undertaken in June. As summer changes to autumn, the male deer start to think about female deer and engage in flights with other males.
I was able to get reasonably close, perhaps 30m, to a young male fallow deer. The slight wind was blowing from the deer towards me, so he could not smell me and continued to feed.
This male has only one "point" to its antler which (I think) indicates it is one year old.
Yesterday I needed to photograph some of the ancient oak trees in the Park for the report I am writing on my insect survey work undertaken in June. As summer changes to autumn, the male deer start to think about female deer and engage in flights with other males.
I was able to get reasonably close, perhaps 30m, to a young male fallow deer. The slight wind was blowing from the deer towards me, so he could not smell me and continued to feed.
This male has only one "point" to its antler which (I think) indicates it is one year old.