The hidden Rut - 17 October 2013

Another try to get pictures of the rut ended in failure, we could hear them and there were lots of photographers looking for their chance, but the Rutting deer remained in the restricted reserve and out of sight. I suppose we all want a bit of privacy when doing things like that :o)

There were some singles around though, so I took a few pics of them as a consolation. With the first three there was a whole lot of trotting going on.

1/500 @ 6.3, iso 400, 170mm

1/400 @ 6.3, iso 400, 170mm

1/800 @ 6.3, iso 400, 275mm

Then a nice little 'family' group caught my eye.

1/500 @ 6.3, iso 400, 275mm

I'm not sure what this Red was doing on his own, maybe he had lost his battle already and was keeping out of the way, but he was moving well enough and didn't look tired out. So maybe he was saving himself for the final battles, when all the others have worn themselves out.

1/200 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

1/160 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Looking at this one's movements, I'd say he had run his race and was ready for a rest.

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

I liked these two pictures, for their settings, too often the deer are out in the open. It's nice to see them in some flora.

1/125 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

1/200 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

all taken with

Canon EOS7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L series lens

Lady Jane Grey - 6 October 2013

Bradgate House in the middle of the Bradgate deer park is the ancestral home of the Grey family, the daughter of which was made Queen of England in 1553 and reigned for nine days before Mary took the throne and had her beheaded.

Below are the ruins of their home. 

1/60 @ 6.3, iso 800, 100mm

It is said that Jane was the victim of politically ambitious parents and until they took her to London and crowned her, she had no pretensions in that direction. Nor did she know where she was being taken until they arrived at the Tower of London. 

1/250 @ 6.3, iso 800, 100mm

An apparent myth about this time is that the woodsmen of the Charnwood Forest, in which the Greys' home is situated, would cut the tops from all the Royal oaks if Jane was beheaded. This tale has grown from the odd shape of many of the older oaks. However, oaks were coppiced at the time of Lady Jane and used for building ships for the navy. The odd shape would have resulted from the time that coppicing ceased.

1/200 @ 6.3, iso 800, 100mm

Every old house should have a ghost story and Bradgate House is no different. It is said that, at midnight on mid-summer's night, Lady Jane's coach approaches along the road from the south, the Newtown Linford road, and stops outside the front door of the house.

1/100 @ 6.3, iso 800, 100mm

However, the main road to the house was from the East, the direction of Anstey, and over a small bridge over the Lin.

1/200 @ 6.3, iso 800, 100mm

We always thought it was just a myth, but some friends and I spent a mid-summer's night in a small old slate quarry nearby, with a clear view of the house.

1/200 @ 6.3, iso 800, 100mm

Midnight approached, and we'd been telling horror stories to keep a light mood. We all watched as the moon disappeared behind an erie cloud and a slight mist rose from the damp grass.

1/125 @ 6.3, iso 800, 100mm

The bells of a nearby church rang out at midnight and we held our collective breath, looking expectantly towards Newtown Linford.

1/1000 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

We waited in silence and .............. Nothing happened, she stood us up! Not the first woman to do that :o)

All taken on

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm

Awaiting the Rut - 6 October 2013

Bradgate Park in Leicestershire has a really good policy of allowing people who are incapable of walking through the park, the opportunity to drive through the park for a couple of hours on a  Thursday and Saturday.

As I am waiting for an operation to replace my hip, we took advantage of this and spent both periods looking for any signs of the Rut which is due anytime now. Although there was sun shining, the shutter speeds seem quite low, that is because most were in shade.

There are signs that the Rut may have begun. The Fallow Deer Stag below was bedecked with weeds, which they do apparently to make themselves look more fearsome to their rivals.

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/40 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

This one was having a good bellow to challenge all-comers.

1/80 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Another challenger collected some weeds to frighten him.

1/20 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

I don't know if these two had worn themselves out or were waiting till everyone else had finished, but they didn't rise to the challenge

1/100 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/250 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

This pair of young ones were making a half-hearted attempt at fighting, but I think they were too young to be serious.

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Others came along to see what all the shouting was about.

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/40 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

When this big Red strolled through the arena, things settled down again.

1/50 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

He decided to have a shout himself and followed up with a good antler rubbing on a tree.

1/80 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/20 @ 5.0, iso 800, 235mm

As we drove round, Maja spotted this Fallow deer in a shaded dell and with the help of flash I managed this pic.

1/64 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm - flash

At the back of the ruins of Lady Jane Grey's family home a Jackdaw took advantage of a group of Fallow deer for a perch.

1/1000 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

And a resident peacock watched all the goings on.

1/640 @ 5.0, iso 400, 200mm

1/640 @ 5.0, iso 400, 200mm

I will be laid up for a few weeks after my operation on Wednesday, so I won't be able to get out and take pictures. I may be able to post some that I took earlier and I shall spend most of my time trying to write another novel. I hope those of you that have tried them have enjoyed the read and will try others, there is a variety of subjects.

All taken on a 

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L series lens