Saw a big herd of about 30 deer (including a big Stag) whilst out on the Hodgson relay route today. I think the leg 1 runners may have disturbed them, and they seemed to be heading from the flanks of the Hayeswater valley over into Bannerdale. A magnificent sight.
Probably part of the Martindale Herd the oldest native red deer herd in England.Originally Posted by Travs
I did the Saunders in this area a few years ago, and one of the teams found a set of antlers (well half a set), which they carried around for the remaining day and a half, strapped to their pack. Lucky blighters. I've mooched around these fells for years trying to find a set, with no luck.
Also a few years ago, I was running back to Askham from High Street, along the ridge, somewhere between Red Crag and Wether Hill, when a herd of red deer came galloping up and over (presumably spooked by something) from the Howtown side and for a few seconds I found myself enveloped and running among them, before they descended towards Haweswater. Quite a special moment.
Am Yisrael Chai
I found an antler during a recce walk on my one and only visit to Jura. I've still got it 38 years later, although my wife has consigned it to the garden shed.
My son found a red deer antler a few years ago. Compared with the Scottish red deer, the antlers grow bigger down here with the longer summers and richer habitat. It's got 10 points on a single antler, which I think is quite rare (16 on two makes it a "monarch").
Umm... I need to keep searching. In my foraging defense, I did once find a near whole whale skeleton (head missing)washed up in a cleft on the rocky point(Rubha an Dunain), south of Loch Brittle, Skye. There was a whole set of ribs, etc., looking like a scene from the Flintstones, but the ribs were too heavy to trail back to the tent so we (my partner and I) carted a couple of vertebrae, which we still have in the garden as a... erm, conversation piece. My neighbour (a marine biologist) thought they might have been from a minke whale.
Am Yisrael Chai
Two jays in the back garden squabbling over a mouse yesterday before dark. I hardly see a jay from one year to the next then two at once. Also I didn't know they could catch mice.
2 Cormorants perched on rocks around a reservoir this morning.
Also spied an interesting looking bird at the end of a jetty, so engaged a birdwatcher in discussion and asked him what it was.... turned out to be a plastic Owl...
Presumably to keep the jetty clear of bird poo (I'm guessing).
Yesterday's encounter for us was a deer showing off its small antlers on White Edge moor near Totley.
On this mornings dog walk a Collared Dove with a Sparrowhawk in hot pursuit flew across the road about 6 feet in front of me, and at eye level. They disappeared around a neighbours house so I don't know if it was a successful breakfast mission.
Visibility good except in Hill Fog
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote