eager beever tales , in search of the wigan roe deer

Name: Chris Beever
Comp: Eager beever photography ltd
Web : original wildlife landscape and nature photographs printed on canvas or framed prints by - Eager Beever Photography
Link : original wildlife landscape and nature photographs printed on canvas or framed prints by - Eager Beever Photography

On the trail of the roe deer

Another 03.30am start and by the look of things peering out of my bedroom window another wet and windy day in Wigan, after packing my usual gadgets into my camera bag with my usual chocky bar and not forgetting a few moral saving butties, I headed off in search of the small family of roe deer that had been eluding me for several weeks.
Today I was going to try a spot around the area of boresdane woods in hindley Wigan that I had constantly spotted roe deer, it probably sounds daft to normal folk but the rain on this miserable cold morning was assisting me as the woodland was extremely quiet apart from the birds that where just waking up.
My thoughts constantly flashed back to the night before when I had placed my small waterproof hide in a nice quiet spot out of the way of any prying eyes, and I hoped with fingers crossed that it had not been found by the local kids and set on fire like so many of my hides before it, I hoped not!
After arriving at my secret hide away and after clearing my hide of the usual overnight residents, mainly spiders “yuck” I settled in for a long stay, an hour or three passed and then, just as the rain started to work its way through my hide dripping down my neck in the process, I heard a distant crunching of twigs, could this be it or was it a dreaded dog walker on there morning ramble? I sat peering out of the hide with camera ready, then one by one the small family of roe deer walked through an opening in the trees about twenty meters away, the male (buck) came first cautiously sniffing the air, then two females(does). I sat like a statue trying not to move a muscle, thoughts run through my mind “what if the family keep on going” “what would be my next move”.
After a very long anxious 5 minutes the male roe deer started to settle, stomping the ground before eventually lying down, he lied there looking over towards the rest of the family who by know where settling down in the thick bracken that concealed there presence ready for a days sleep.
Raising my camera slowly and quietly I began to take my images making sure the family where not disturbed by my presence, after an hour of sheer pleasure I decided that my work here was done, slowly I backed out of my hide and made my way out of the area, making sure of course that no one had seen me leave.
The roe deer of Wigan can be found in bores Dane woods, haigh hall, and rivington horwich, near the barn but be warned a very early start and extreme quiet and patience is the key to getting close to our very illusive and shy neighbours