Wildlife-spotting

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Whenever we go out for a walk, it always adds a little extra excitement and pleasure to spot some of the more elusive wildlife, and in the ten years that we’ve lived in this village and walked in the nearby woods, we’ve often looked out for the deer which we know live there. Even so, I have rarely seen them. Once a Muntjac leapt out of a bush just in front of me, and another time a Roe buck ran across our path, but the few other times I’ve seen any they have been just a glimpse in the distance, and more often than not I’ve been lucky to spot anything more than a hoofprint. Since moving to our current house though I have seen more deer than in all the years before – and not because of improved deer-stalking techniques but simply by looking out of the window. Turns out that the places deer actually like to hang out are not the deepest recesses of the woods but actually our gardens. And not just in the dim light of dusk or dawn either; they are quite happy to stroll across the grass and nibble the shrubs in the middle of the afternoon. This one is in one of our neighbours’ gardens. It’s nice to see them, but my garden is now festooned with wire and plastic mesh to protect the flowers! All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2017.