Photographs

Grey wagtail

On the 18th we went to Wilstone Reservoir to see what was about, there were a couple of these along the edge, usually reliable here.

Grey wagtail

This time of year it is ften easy to get good kingfisher photos from the hide, this year the water is so low there is only medow for alongway all round the hide, end no water at all where the halcions usually fish.

Muntjac

Mammals made up for the lack of bird subjects with no less than 3 of the 6 British species showing up, the first was this female muntjac.

Muntjac

The bed of the reservoir is now covered in wast high vegitation, all of a sudden she popped out of the deep cover onto a part wher the vegitation was much lower not too far away from the front of the hide.

Muntjac

A couple of minutes later she was joined by this male, a very attractive animal, small but perfectly formed in a chubby sort of way, they both fed taking no notice of us.

Muntjac

The munjac is generaly a little bit smaller than the waterdeer, but often heavier, thats probably why the muntjacs tend to look a bit chubby, we are quite lucky that both muntjacs and chinese water deer originally got into the UK in this area so they are quite commom around us.

Muntjac

I have photographed them a few times, usually females and never a male with good face markings anywhere near close enough or in full daylight, this time all these things came together.

Chinese water deer

Nationally these are quite rare, possibly the rareest UK deer species, but around the Tring Reservoirs and our house these are the ones we see most often.

Chinese water deer

Though nationally quite rare infact the rarest deer in the UK, they are the deer we see most often around the Tring Reservoirs. They are only small, about 2 feet to the shoulder but that makes it easier for them to disappear into the reeds.

Chinese water deer

Muntjac generally prefer to live in woodlands, coming out to meadows to feed, water deer definitely prefer reed beds.

Chinese water deer

This one first appeared coming out of the dense reed bed quite a way from the hide, but slowly moved closer and closer to the hide but never coming as close as the muntjacs, but near enough for some OK photos.

Chinese water deer

These can often be a bit flighty and are often seen running, usually away, but this time it showed really well for about 20 minutes often right out in the open. but always within a few steps of tall undergrowth to disappear into.

Chinese water deer

This to me summarises one of the reasons I get pleasure out of watching wildlife, it's a rare wild animal in its own beautiful environment, it is quite happy going about it's life and doesn't know or doesn't care that we can see it.

Roe deer

Now this one was a surprise to me, the other two species were out to the right of the hide where I usually see deer, but this was a loan animal out to the left.

Roe deer

At first glance I thought it as another water deer and ignored it, but with a bit of thought it's big ears gave it away as a roe, it was only similar size as the water deer so only a young roe.

Roe deer

I have never seen roe here before, a ady in the hide told us that the previous day she had seen four aduls in the same place. It should not be a surprise as the roe deer is Britains commonest and most wide spred deer.

Roe deer

Roe are around 6 inches taller at the shoulder, but look even taller due to their elegant build and have a white or pale patch on their rump.

Egyptian goose

This year there have been a few of these at Wilstone, in my lifetime they were very rare and localised in the UK, now they are spread over East Anglia, East Midlands and the South East showing how quickly migrants can establish themselves and spread.