Fallow deer at Ashridge

[Pete Collins]

This morning I went for a walk round the National Trust's Ashridge estate, which lies on the northern edge of the Chiltern Hills on the Herts/Bucks county boundary (although my walk would remain entirely in Hertfordshire). I walk round that area quite often (together with Berkhamsted and Northchurch commons, it extends over about 16 square miles), but today I went for two particuar reasons - to see the beautiful trees in their autumn colours and to see the Fallow deer. It was a bit early to see the trees at their best (many were still largely green) but I was not disappointed in my second objective - I had more sightings of Fallow Deer than on any previous 2-3 hour walk there.

From the car park by the Bridgewater monument, I went a short way back down the drive and turned right by a footpath sign. It was a lovely walk through the trees, and after about a third of a mile I reached a point where there was a large pasture on my left. Suddenly I noticed a Fallow buck wander across the path ahead of me, and a few yards further on there were a few Fallow hinds a short distance to the right of the path. Sadly the lighting conditions meant my photos were disappointing, but I managed to get a long-distance shot of some deer in the pasture (as well as cattle, there are often large numbers of Fallow deer here, as I would see on my way back).



I carried on, crossing over a road (I saw a Nuthatch just before the road) and continued through the trees - soon I could hear a large buck roaring or bellowing in the trees over to my left, but I couldn't spot it. I eventually reached the hamlet of Norcutt Hill - the up-and-down path along the edge of the woods between there and the road into Berkhamsted is somewhere that I frequently see deer, and today was no exception. At one point I came to a short but steep slope, and at the top was a large Fallow buck staring down at me! It moved off into the bushes too quickly for me to get a photo. A bit further on I saw a solitary hind, and further still a young buck (which I did manage to photo).



When I reached the road, I followed it a short way to the left. I glimpsed the tops of a mature buck and a young buck as they moved through some bracken a short distance to my left. I crossed the road and followed a path to Northchurch Farm. Beyond that, the path crossed what I believe is a polo pitch, and then followed a hedgerow down into a small valley - I noticed movement in the field to my right, my presence had disturbed a buck and about a dozen hinds there, though I was several hundred yards from them.



The path led on to Coldharbor Farm, where I followed a path back into the beautiful trees again. At a path junction I stopped, looking and listening to a mixed flock of various birds around me (Great, Blue. Coal and Long-tailed Tits included). I also heard another buck roaring, so decided to take the path heading in that general direction. I was soon walking close to the edge of another large pasture, where I have seen large herds of 80-100 deer in the past. Soon I could tell there was more than one Fallow buck roaring. I couldn't see any deer in the pasture, until I got close to the corner - there was a mature buck and a young buck. I finally managed to get some half-decent photos of a large Fallow buck.





There was a slightly unnerving moment as the large buck came towards me, but once it got under the wire fence round the large enclosure it just crossed the track ahead of me, followed by the young buck. I continued on my way, now walking down a lovely avenue of beech trees (you've probably seen photos of it, it's often on calendars and in wildlife magazines!). When I came to the road again, there was a gate opposite in the corner of other large pasture that I'd passed near the start of the walk. There were 30-40 deer there now.



I followed a bridleway through the trees to the left of the field, and at a crossroads turned left, rejoining my outward route. As I passed close to the side of the field again, I took another photo, just to show the number of deer in the field.



I was really pleased. It was a beautiful morning, and had been a very pleasant walk for two and a half hours. I knew that I'd see some Fallow deer there (I always do, it's hard not to really!), but I was very pleased that I'd seen (and heard!) so many. I'd deliberately visited the areas where I most regularly see the deer, but even so I was surprised how frequently I came across them. And I was delighted to finally get a photo of a Fallow buck with my Panasonic FZ18 camera!

[pammosley]

Hi Pete, What a morning you`ve had Lucky you.
Thanks for sharing your walk with us, together with some lovely photos. So many deer
Pam

[juliejam]

Some great photo pete..looks like it was well worth it...as you already know I visit Ashridge quite a few times during a month..Its a great place to catch the Deer in the early morning...or come to that at any time....Have also had some good Fungi finds over that way...with 5000 acrea to walk around there is always plenty to see..Im planning my next trip next week to catch those Autumn colours..

Julie

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by juliejam

Some great photo pete..looks like it was well worth it...as you already know I visit Ashridge quite a few times during a month..Its a great place to catch the Deer in the early morning...or come to that at any time....Have also had some good Fungi finds over that way...with 5000 acrea to walk around there is always plenty to see..Im planning my next trip next week to catch those Autumn colours..

Julie

I did wonder if you would be there Julie, as I know our visits have coincided a couple of times! It was very busy at the Monument, the car park was two thirds full at about 9.45, and completely full when I got back about 12.20. As usual, though, once I'd gone a few hundred yards from the Monument I hardly saw a soul. Certainly didn't come across anyone studying fungi.

I've just posted a couple of photos from this morning on the Fungi forum - I'm hoping to learn my fourth type of fungi!

[Ann2]

It certainly was a lovely day for it Pete. I haven't been up to Ashridge since the Spring when the bluebells were out.

I'm hoping for a nice day tomorrow. I thought I might take a trip to Woburn Abbey to see what the deer are up to there.

Ann

[Keith Talbot]

sounds like you had a good day pete,i love this time of year,

the fallow bucks are all out looking for a fight,theres lots af action down here in the new forest at the moment,managed to see several ruts the other day,an amazeing site

keith

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by Keith Talbot

sounds like you had a good day pete,i love this time of year,

the fallow bucks are all out looking for a fight,theres lots af action down here in the new forest at the moment,managed to see several ruts the other day,an amazeing site

keith

Yes, Keith, I saw your photos in the Gallery, very impressive!

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by Ann2

It certainly was a lovely day for it Pete. I haven't been up to Ashridge since the Spring when the bluebells were out.

I'm hoping for a nice day tomorrow. I thought I might take a trip to Woburn Abbey to see what the deer are up to there.

Ann

Good luck at Woburn, Ann, do let us all know how you get on!

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by pammosley

Hi Pete, What a morning you`ve had Lucky you.
Thanks for sharing your walk with us, together with some lovely photos. So many deer
Pam

Thanks Pam, glad you enjoyed my post!

[Pete Collins]

I went for a longer walk round Ashridge and the surrounding area this morning. Saw plenty of Fallow deer again, but heard no evidence of the rut so I think it may be over. Managed to get some shots of female Fallow deer in a paddock near Northchurch.

A female (I think doe is the correct term for a female Fallow deer)

A female with a younger, smaller deer

The smaller deer, presumably one of this year's fawns

[gess]

Hi Pete

love to read about your walks, looks like another enjoyable one and lovely pics to remind you

Gess

[juliejam]

The last time i heard and saw a good amount of Deer was just over a week ago..there were a few Munjac deer around as usual this week..they werent really bothered about us..looking around moving the leaves about looking for food...eating fungi i bet..

Some great shots you have there again...always a pleasure to see the Deer at Ashridge..have you ever joined in the early morning Deer sighting ..ther are quite a few other meeting throughout the yr..Fungi.Bats..Badger and Owl..well worth looking into..

Julie

[Tally]

How lovely to read of your walk through Ashridge Forest, it bought back some lovely childhood memories as you mentioned various landmarks, ones that I hadnt thought of in many years. I think my appreciation of nature was probably first bought to the fore as I spent many hours there with my dear dad, himself a lover of all things wild. Thanks again for reminding me.

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by gess

Hi Pete

love to read about your walks, looks like another enjoyable one and lovely pics to remind you

Gess

Thanks Gess!

Originally Posted by juliejam

The last time i heard and saw a good amount of Deer was just over a week ago..there were a few Munjac deer around as usual this week..they werent really bothered about us..looking around moving the leaves about looking for food...eating fungi i bet..

Some great shots you have there again...always a pleasure to see the Deer at Ashridge..have you ever joined in the early morning Deer sighting ..ther are quite a few other meeting throughout the yr..Fungi.Bats..Badger and Owl..well worth looking into..

Julie

I'm far too lazy to get up for the early morning Deer sightings! Might be interested in the Owl thing though. Disappointed that I haven't seen any Muntjac on my last three Ashridge walks, as I do see them there quite often (yet to get a decent photo though!).

Originally Posted by Tally

How lovely to read of your walk through Ashridge Forest, it bought back some lovely childhood memories as you mentioned various landmarks, ones that I hadnt thought of in many years. I think my appreciation of nature was probably first bought to the fore as I spent many hours there with my dear dad, himself a lover of all things wild. Thanks again for reminding me.

Thanks Tally, and welcome to WAB!

[Ann2]

I also managed to get up to Ashridge last week in the snow. I only saw a handful of deer and certainly no sign of rutting but there was quite a bit of snow to make up for the lack of deer.

I did make it to Woburn though while there were still red deer rutting. The weather could have been a bit brighter but I took plenty of photos anyway.

Ann