Don’t bark at me, deer

I’m in Lincoln today and just heading off for a brief visit to Whisby, a park with the possibility of some water birds. As I drive I can’t say I’m distracted, but I do see a group of beautiful, small, elegant, reddish deer in the field next to me. I park and get the camera out of the boot, hoping they’ll still be there. And they are:

Roe Deer - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Their white bottoms are such a strong visual signal.

So are the horns on this one:

Roe Deer - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Those horns have quite a story to tell. They are Roe Deer, Capreolus capreolus. I wish I had ears which could turn in the direction of any sound like this female:

Roe Deer - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

This one is barking at something. Why do they bark? Nobody really knows but they may bark in alarm, to deter pursuit or to enforce territory. Here’s the science: Contexts and possible functions of barking in roe deer

Roe Deer - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Don’t bark at me, deer.

I’m so delighted I’ve seen them. Anything else I see will be a bonus.

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