Bushy and Richmond Parks - just plain excellent for deer!

[d70mpv]

On the information given by derelict I went to Bushy Park a few weeks ago and then on to Richmond Park this last weekend. And, well they're quite simply excellent places to watch deer from a very close vantage point. I'm not advocating going right up to them (you shouldn't!) but they are very tolerant of humans and will happily sit, stand, walk and roar around the passers by all day.

I'd thoroughly recommend a trip to either - there's probably more deer in Richmond Park and they're roaring more at the moment it seems - the deer are just plain beautiful! Do mind the ticks though - don't go charging around in the long grass and bracken with bare legs as they bite (and transmit the rather nasty Lyme Disease). Stick to the paths as we did - you don't really need to venture off them and for the deer's sake you shouldn't.

Enjoy!

[derelict]

Originally Posted by d70mpv

but they are very tolerant of humans and will happily sit, stand, walk and roar around the passers by all day.

I'd say "more" rather than "very". We were up watching the young fallow bucks playing in the moonlight when a couple of the larger wandering stags put in an appearance and proceedings came to an abrupt end. They were unduly interested in us as the fallows melted away and we beat a retreat down the hill and across the road as one followed us to the top of the slope yelling as he came. That's the sort of tolerance I could do without. Moral: you can't be too careful. It was a pleasure to be at the WAB New Forest meet next day where NO stags put in an appearance though I'm certain that I was the only one who felt that!

Originally Posted by d70mpv

I'd thoroughly recommend a trip to either - there's probably more deer in Richmond Park and they're roaring more at the moment it seems -

They certainly are - last week I was standing on a slope with one of the "regular" photographers watching the chaos below as the frantic junior stags drove the hinds from one harem only for them to run to another. At their age some of those hinds must be their mums. At the end, just as the light was starting to go one of the stags went across to the other harem to retrieve his missing hinds and a rare heavyweight contest between two harem owners ensued which went on for 10 minutes or so in one of the bracken stands adjoining the woodland. A photographer lurking there had to beat a hasty retreat but it would be interesting to see his shots! Inevitably the "visitor" lost and then had to get back to his remaining hinds before they went the same way, as a result of which the photographer (who posts somewhere on Flickr I believe) got to record a last-minute flypast. By the time the stag got back the young stags had driven most of his missing hinds (or other ones) back to him! The scene was chaotic and the noise incessant with everything with antlers having a yell. I don't see how you can really do it justice with photographs. You have to be there to take it in. And if hadn't been for those pesky kids....

[Ukwildlifeo]

perhaps we should have a wab meet up. Im planning to visit richmond saturday...

[derelict]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

perhaps we should have a wab meet up. Im planning to visit richmond saturday...

you could try contacting pressld2 directly - I found out he'd never been to RP and after last weekend he's probably quite keen to see a stag or two...