Middlebere

[puddleshark]

An evening walk down to the bird hide at Middlebere, one of the inlets of Poole Harbour. A wild wind shaking the oak trees, blowing through the reeds.





Seen from the hide: Sika deer on the marshes, Little Egrets, distant unidentified ducks & geese.










Suddenly the air was full of swallows, swooping high and low in all directions. They are starting to gather.

Comments

[frith]

Such a cute deer. I think sika.

[puddleshark]

Yes, Sika deer, though you couldn't see the hind leg glands for mud!

Someone introduced them as an ornamental species on an island in Poole Harbour in 1896, not knowing that they were strong swimmers. Now they are the commonest deer species in this part of Dorset.

[watervole]

Also a pest that over-grazes reed beds, etc.

Buy venison at a National Trust shop....

[puddleshark]

The Sika are a little too well-adapted to the Dorset heathland, aren't they? At one time the herd down at Arne was hundreds strong, but I think there must be some quiet culling going on now.

[watervole]

I'm certain there is. With no natural predators any more, deer are a real problem.

[sartorias]

Such rich colors!

[puddleshark]

There was some fabulous evening sunlight between the squally showers last night, and everything was tinged gold and silver...

[heleninwales]

The deer pictures are lovely, the golden evening light really adds to the scene.

[puddleshark]

Thanks!

We'd had squally showers all day, and all that moisture in the air made the evening light absolutely gorgeous.

[kaishin108]

Lucky you, seeing all those birds! :)

[puddleshark]

It's a wonderful place to watch birds. There are always flocks of ducks and waders arriving and taking off out on the mudflats. But they're usually just a bit too far away to photograph!