2020 - Post Lock-down

Friday 11th September 2020. After several months of life being restricted due to the Covid19 virus, I finally managed a trip to Richmond Park. It was great to get out and watch the wildlife again. I finally parked the car, as there are restrictions on where you can drive now, and headed to the lakes. The light was lovely and it was very misty. I found the best place for the light and waited for something to swim or fly into it. Eventually I watched the male swan trying to push another swan away from the lake. I was looking into the sun which had an orange glow.

The male & female swan then went to another part of the lake, which was in the shade, & was joined by the youngster. They started to do courtship movements together. I'm assuming they are confirming their bond as a pair, but I have never seen this display with the youngster joining in.

I walked around the park for a few hours but there was not a lot of activity today and only heard 1 stag bellowing briefly. The rut hasn't started. I sat with a herd of fallow deer for a while. This youngster was curious as to what I was doing.

Tuesday 15th September 2020.

Following the above trip to Richmond Park, I decided to go again the following week. Unfortunately on this day it was cloudy and there was no sunrise or mist. I did, however, watch a herd of deer enjoying the water. They spent over 20 minutes playing and running in the lake but I only managed to video the final part as they were leaving as I was so enjoying watching them I forgot to record the action.

I then wandered around the park as I could hear the bellowing of the deer and felt the rut was beginning. All the deer photos were taken with a 400mm lens and cropped as there is no way I am going to get close to these animals who are unpredictable at the best of times, but especially during the rut.

The photo below was of 2 younger stags practicing for the future as they are too young to be serious contenders this year.

Wednesday 7th October

Another trip to Richmond Park. This time not a lot happening on the pond and poor light and sunrise. There was a lot of activity and bellowing from the deer though. As it was getting colder, I decided to try and photograph a deer looking into the sun and try to capture his breath. This was easier said than done as they kept moving and I couldn't position myself in the appropriate place. However, I did finally get this one.

Monday 26th October 2020

Decided to take a trip to Bushy Park as the weather forecast for this week was not good and then the following week the gates will not open to Bushy or Richmond until after sunrise so unable to access either park in the best light. A nice day today albeit a bit cold. Not a lot happening on the ponds so wandered around the park to see what the deer were doing. Both red and fallow deer were rutting and making a lot of noise

This deer was defending his hinds but difficult to photograph because of all the bracken in the way and the stag below just stood still watching him, and me

After watching the red deer stags I decided to go and find the fallow deer. There was a lot of grunting from the bucks. Below is mum and her fawn who were hiding in the bracken.

Fallow buck resting

Thats what she thinks of me!

6th November. Further restrictions imposed for a month and can go out for exercise but not too far, whatever that means? It was a sunny morning with some mist/fog so I decided to go to Fleet Pond. It was beautiful there but not a lot going on with the wildlife. A few swans, one grebe and some mallards and coots was all I saw. The only half decent photos are the 2 below. The first one was taken first when the sun had not long risen and there was still some mist. The 2nd photo was taken a little later when the sun was out more and slightly different position, hence the difference in background colour.