Barking among the bluebells

[puddleshark]

The fog did eventually start to clear on my walk yesterday, and on the way back to Folly there were views...




The Brace of Pheasants pub in Plush.

From Plush onto the chalk track that climbs up onto the downs. Wild Garlic and Bluebells and Sanicle flowering beside the way. On the open hilltop, the path divided, and I took the right hand way.


I should have known when a raven flew overhead and remarked distinctly "Ha! Ha! Ha!" that the path I was following through the grass had been made by the gamekeeper's ATV, and led only to a private woods. I had to turn back, re-cross the whole of Watcombe Plain. But at least I got to admire the archaeology - ancient grassy terraces and banks, remains of a Romano-British field system. Twice.

Next time, take the left hand way.


*crossly admires the view*



I finally, finally found my way back onto the Wessex Ridgeway, which led me through some depressingly large fields, before cheering me up with the bluebells of Watcombe Wood.





Something came running towards me down the track, and I thought at first it was a small dog...


Muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi). Native to China, introduced as an ornamental species in Woburn Park in Bedfordshire at the start of the 20th century, since when they have gradually spread across southern England. (Though nothing like as numerous as Sika deer, which are now the most common deer species in Dorset).

They bark! I had heard them called "Barking Deer" and they really do bark. When I rewarded myself for reaching the woods with a sit down and a cup of coffee from a flask, I could hear him nearby barking among the bluebells. ("Barking among the bluebells". Why do I feel a strange sense of fellowship?)


Flinty fields and the edge of Watcombe Wood.


The chalk track down to Folly.

Comments

[frith]

Muntjac also squeak. We had a rather tame only living in the red panda enclosure. The muntjac was very fond of the leftover bamboo leaves and "Leafeater Diet" dry feed and he would squeak in anticipation of getting fed the leftovers. He also liked to get the glands on his head petted and his necked scratched.

[puddleshark]

They squeak! Oh, how lovely!

The Sika deer round here can be remarkably tame, but I'd never had a close encounter with a Muntjac before...

[frith]

At full size I see that his left ear is notched. He may have been raised in captivity.

[puddleshark]

That would explain why I managed to get so close. It was only when I got close enough for him to pick up my scent that he realised I was a stranger and vanished into the woods.