Mixed bag at Bradgate Park

A trip through Bradgate Park proved more interesting than expected. About ten Pied Wagtails descended on the field at the back of the house, I'm not sure of the collective noun for Pied Wagtails. Maybe a Crust or a waggle or some such, does anyone know.

1/800 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

1/800 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

The Stags seemed to be resting, maybe storing up energy for the forthcoming rut.

1/800 @ f6.3, iso 800, 160mm

I couldn't resist this "chocolate boxy" pose of a young Fallow Deer

1/250 @ f6.3, iso 800, 100mm

All pictures taken with a Canon EOS 7d and EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Oh Yea, Oh Yea, Oh Yea.

These Does are mine

1/800 @ f6.3, ISO 1600, 375mm

Heading for the hills

Red deer at Bradgate Park

1/1000 @ f6.3, ISO 400, 210mm

Another Deer trip - 31 October 2013

Thursday was the last day this year when cars for the less mobile were allowed to drive through the Bradgate park so we decided to to take advantage of it despite the weather not looking too promising and our belief that the deer would be hiding sheltering from the weather.

We were wrong, there were deer everywhere. We could hear the occasional call of deer still in the final throes of the rut. But I think most of it had run its course and the losing stags were settling down for a rest as were the winners once they'd done their duty. The fallow deer below settled himself down seemingly oblivious to anyone else.

1/200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

1/200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

While the Peacock looked on with a superior air and hit on any car pulling into the Bradgate house surrounds.

1/250 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 100mm

Fallow deer were scattered around in every sheltered corner they could find.

1/400 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

These Red deer had, what appeared to be, a face off. They parallel walked for a while but eventually went off in different directions.

1/640 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

1/640 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

1/320 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 360mm

This fallow deer stag looked as though he was looking for a mate, but the females seemed to be keeping out of his way.

1/1328 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

The camouflage on this fallow deer can make it difficult to spot.

1/125 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

On our way out of the park there was this Red Tailed Hawk being exercised beside the track.

1/160 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 400mm

1/125 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 220mm

1/160 @ f6.3, iso 3200, 285mm

All taken with a

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm lens

A walk in the Park - 18 February 2011

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1.0  @ F32, iso 400, 100mm

The weather hasn't shown much of an improvement and it looks like continuing like this next week.
On Friday I took Skipper for a walk in Bradgate park, the light was so grey I nearly didn't take the camera. But you know the old adage about a real photographer never goes anywhere without a camera, it must have been  playing on my  subconcious. Because as I reached for my mobile phone, I picked up the camera as well. It was a good thin I did!

As we strolled through the park, there was not a bit of animal life in sight, apart from people and their dogs. I looked at the river and wasn't inspired, but when I reached the waterfall, I decided to play with shutter speeds and get that silky effect that displays the movement of the water.

Furthe along the road to Lady Jane Greys house I spotted a deer crossing the road and knowing they rarely travel alone, I got in closer and hid behind a tree. Skipper lay down behind me and we were rewarded by a mass crossing of about 200 deer. They were looking for grazing close to the house.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/ 250 @ 4.5, iso 800, 100mm

This is just the advanced party, there were so many even Skipper was getting restless by the time the last one crossed. 

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/100 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

This old one gave me a very suspicious look as I moved round the tree to take his picture, I suspect he could see Skipper on the ground behind me as well. I dont suppose he has many seasons left in him. He looks too old to win a rutting challenge.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/100 @5.6, iso 800, 400mm

This one seems to have chosen his mate already, or she chose him, any way they stayed close together all the time I was there.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200  @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

I got the feeling this 14 pointer was the boss, he looked magnificent and strutted around like he owned the place.