Monday, 23 May 2011

Roe Deer

Of the six species of deer in the UK, only two are native.  The largest, red deer, can be found in herds in Scotland, East Anglia and the far south of England (like the new forest). 
The other, roe deer, are more widespread and live a moor singular existence. Being nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn or dusk) they can be hard to see, so it is an impressive sight to find one starting at you from a field of barley in south Abingdon.
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They are suprisingly brave and don't seem to mind people taking photographs of them, but a suddern sound or movement can send them leaping across a field:
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Like red deer, the males have antlers. The lack of them mean this one is probably a female.
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5 comments:

  1. is this the field near tesco?

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  2. Hello,

    It's the field to south of the Ock and Mill Road. The fields go down to Drayton.

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  3. ah! - seen deer around there a lot -they hide for months and then i see one stroll casually past my garden at dusk - i've actually seen them on the walk between drayton road and the town too - they seem to sneak under the road through the normally dry passage - even seen one in the back gardens of the houses that back onto it.

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  4. I saw one from my bedroom window the other morning - now I know the species...thanks Richard!
    I also saw a muntjac drinking in the Ock on the path behind Ock street...they seem so relaxed!

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  5. Thank you both for your comments. It appears the deer are more common and braver than I thought.

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