A pictorial diary of my walks around the parks and wild areas of Leicestershire, and occasionally farther afield.

If you're new to my blog, you might like to have a look at the pictures in the older post as well (click on button at the bottom of the page).

I am also a writer, using the pen-name John Gwynant, and I'll occasionally announce my latest book release on the blog.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

The preliminaries Bradgate Park - 25 Sept 14

These two Fallow deer stags seem to entering the preliminaries of the rut, starting with the parallel walk.
1/1000 @ f7.1, iso 800, 260mm
Then it's heads down and antlers in, it was a bit subdued so obviously not yet fired by hormones.

1/800 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm
1/800 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm
They kept it up for about five minutes.

1/800 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm
Then separated and the dark coloured one preened himself  and trotted around proudly.

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 800, 180mm
While the white one left the field, crossed the road and didn't come back.

1/1000 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm
Here's one that has found it all just a little too much and decided on a nap instead.

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 800, 190mm
This one was watching in the wings and it wouldn't surprise me if he was in the middle of things when it all kicks off.
1/100 @ f7.1, iso 800, 200mm
The Red deer have started their bellowing and cant be far away from the big battles.

1/640 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm
By the park gate, a falconer was exercising his Red Tailed Hawk female, I posted some pice of his male a few months ago.
1/160 @ f7.1, iso 800, 200mm
1/200 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

All taken on Canon EOS 7D, EF 100 - 400mm L series lens