Deer ID Help Needed Please

clairescavys · #1 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 06:53 AM

Hi everyone

I saw this deer (photo below) at Minsmere (on path between Bittern Hide and Island Mere Hide) and having led a sheltered life when it comes to deer (having only seen Muntjac), I am not sure what type of deer it is. After a bit of research, I think it may be a Roe Deer, but if anyone can ascertain whether this is the case or not, I would be eternally grateful!

Many thanks

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 07:36 AM

Female Red deer.

deer boy · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 02:37 PM

As Dogghound has already said it's a Female Red deer, nice pic

Hedge Witch · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 02:41 PM

Crikey - I want to go there now - huge great deer just casually walking around, mingling with the general public - fantastic

clairescavys · #5 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 04:30 PM

Hi everyone

Thanks very much for your replies, they have been most helpful and much appreciated.

Deer Boy - thanks very much for the compliments on the photo.

Hedge Witch - the best time of day to go to Minsmere is early morning (this photo was taken at about 8:15am). You see and hear so much more, before all the visitors come later on (it does get quite busy). We had been up since 5:30 and at Minsmere since 7:30! So be prepared for a early start!

You may also be intested to hear we have also got a few photos of male and female adult deer (complete with antlers) foraging together in a field we entered in Minsmere. I'll check the quality and may upload a few to the Gallery.

deer boy · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

You may also be intested to hear we have also got a few photos of male and female adult deer (complete with antlers) foraging together in a field we entered in Minsmere. I'll check the quality and may upload a few to the Gallery.

Hi clairescavys are you going to upload the pics

clairescavys · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 08:23 PM

Hi Deer Boy

Sorry, I've been trying to find the photos - I've finally located them on my harddrive (I have quite a few photos.........)

I will upload a couple in a minute, but be warned - they may not get accepted by WAB as the quality is not the best as I had my old camera back when I took them (it wasn't the best of cameras)!

clairescavys · #8 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 08:41 PM

Sorry Deer Boy, looks like I was right. Just got emails from WAB not accepting the photos. I have uploaded a photo of a cheeky looking Muntac Deer though, hope that makes up for it!

deer boy · #9 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 10:27 PM

Thats a shame, Great Muntjac though

Hobjob · #10 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clairescavys

I saw this deer (photo below) at Minsmere (on path between Bittern Hide and Island Mere Hide) and having led a sheltered life when it comes to deer

Minsmere has the largest herd of red deer outside Scotland; they are
encouraged because they keep passages through the reed which helps
the bitterns.

Their tracks though the reads can easily be seen from the path across to
the beach.

I have heard local farmers complaining about the numbers!!
However much of the farmland adjacent to Minsmere has been bought
by the RSPB & NT in recent years and is being let go back to acid grassland
or heath reversion.

Males only appear on the reserve in the autumn rut, and then seem to disperse
inland , Females are resident and not that skittish unless they have
young with them.

At dusk it is quite common to see them on the "Coney hill", the grassy
area to the NE of the visitors centre, and looking down from from Dunwich
cliffs is also good for sotting them.

Rendlesham forest 15 miles to the south is full of Roes - don't know why!