It’s interesting that during our summer walks across the fen, we’ve not seen any Muntjac deer. The only ones we’ve seen have been in the garden and we’ve also had reports from friends that they’ve seen them in their gardens. Janet Knights found a doe had built a nest in her garden and given birth.
It seems the big herd of some 20 deer that we saw regularly during the winter broke up in late spring and the females came into the village (around gardens) to give birth and raise their young.
Last weekend, when we walked the dogs, I saw a big (well big for a muntjac) buck standing watching us from the end of the dyke. He was not too concerned by us (even the dogs) and stood and watched as we approached before finally heading off towards Whittlesey, but not in a great hurry. He stood in the middle of the field a couple of hundred yards away and cooly watched us. On the same walk, we saw two other lone bucks, also none too concerned at our approach.
I think the males are gathering on the open fen looking to stake out a bit of territory and perhaps gather a harem around them. They are certainly keeping a respectful distance between one another.
This morning when we walked the dogs, Holly put up a large buck in the field by the track. He’d been well hidden, but she must have got a little too close for his comfort and he bounded up alongside us (so we got a good look at him) and then headed off to the east at a pace, clearing a dyke quite comfortably and then running across a harvested wheat field, easily hurdling a couple of bales of straw that were in his way.
We also saw a fine red kite hunting along the hedge line at the edge of the village. I’ve seen plenty of buzzards, but the kite is a new one. There are lots just to the west of Peterborough around King’s Cliffe so this one was probably having a look east seeing what the pickings were like out in the fen. It’s easy to tell a kite from a buzzard - the buzzard has a rounded tail and the kite has a shallow swallow tail and more distinct light patches under its wing. We got a good look at this one, it wasn't at all shy, and flew low over us several times.
On the way back along the main road, we picked some sloes for Sam, who might make some sloe gin for Christmas. Margaret is talking about making some this year, but I’ll try to dissuade her. My sister makes very good sloe gin and we generally get a little taste of that (and some of Sam’s too, no doubt). I think we should make something else, perhaps advocaat or limoncello?
There are plenty of sloes on the trees and while Margaret was picking them (I was holding the dogs) a man shouted out of his front window: "Are they for sloe gin?" Margaret said they were and he said he'd like some. I thought he meant gin, but Margaret thought he was cross because we were picking sloes that he'd had his eye on.
A couple of minutes later he came out of his house and across the road towards us, followed by a little black shaggy terrier. He asked if we ever took the dogs on holiday and gave us some copies of his magazine. Turns out he's Gareth Salter, the editor of Out & About - the exclusive guide to dog-friendly travel and holidays. It's a monthly magazine and he's always on the look-out for people to share their doggy experiences with him (no - not that kind of doggy experience!). I was reading one while Margaret cooked breakfast and there was an article about visiting Southwold which Daniella Falco had written about her experience with her labradoodle Mia.
The magazine is an easy read, but a little like "what I did on my holidays". Perhaps I could write a few pieces for him when I retire?
It seems the big herd of some 20 deer that we saw regularly during the winter broke up in late spring and the females came into the village (around gardens) to give birth and raise their young.
Last weekend, when we walked the dogs, I saw a big (well big for a muntjac) buck standing watching us from the end of the dyke. He was not too concerned by us (even the dogs) and stood and watched as we approached before finally heading off towards Whittlesey, but not in a great hurry. He stood in the middle of the field a couple of hundred yards away and cooly watched us. On the same walk, we saw two other lone bucks, also none too concerned at our approach.
I think the males are gathering on the open fen looking to stake out a bit of territory and perhaps gather a harem around them. They are certainly keeping a respectful distance between one another.
This morning when we walked the dogs, Holly put up a large buck in the field by the track. He’d been well hidden, but she must have got a little too close for his comfort and he bounded up alongside us (so we got a good look at him) and then headed off to the east at a pace, clearing a dyke quite comfortably and then running across a harvested wheat field, easily hurdling a couple of bales of straw that were in his way.
We also saw a fine red kite hunting along the hedge line at the edge of the village. I’ve seen plenty of buzzards, but the kite is a new one. There are lots just to the west of Peterborough around King’s Cliffe so this one was probably having a look east seeing what the pickings were like out in the fen. It’s easy to tell a kite from a buzzard - the buzzard has a rounded tail and the kite has a shallow swallow tail and more distinct light patches under its wing. We got a good look at this one, it wasn't at all shy, and flew low over us several times.
On the way back along the main road, we picked some sloes for Sam, who might make some sloe gin for Christmas. Margaret is talking about making some this year, but I’ll try to dissuade her. My sister makes very good sloe gin and we generally get a little taste of that (and some of Sam’s too, no doubt). I think we should make something else, perhaps advocaat or limoncello?
There are plenty of sloes on the trees and while Margaret was picking them (I was holding the dogs) a man shouted out of his front window: "Are they for sloe gin?" Margaret said they were and he said he'd like some. I thought he meant gin, but Margaret thought he was cross because we were picking sloes that he'd had his eye on.
A couple of minutes later he came out of his house and across the road towards us, followed by a little black shaggy terrier. He asked if we ever took the dogs on holiday and gave us some copies of his magazine. Turns out he's Gareth Salter, the editor of Out & About - the exclusive guide to dog-friendly travel and holidays. It's a monthly magazine and he's always on the look-out for people to share their doggy experiences with him (no - not that kind of doggy experience!). I was reading one while Margaret cooked breakfast and there was an article about visiting Southwold which Daniella Falco had written about her experience with her labradoodle Mia.
The magazine is an easy read, but a little like "what I did on my holidays". Perhaps I could write a few pieces for him when I retire?
What a treat to see the Muntjac jump out of the undergrowth and how wonderful to see it clear the haystacks. It was a good walk. To be so close to the deer and to the amazing display of the Kite. Walking doesn't get any better............
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