At Dyrham Park

We went out today to Dyrham Park, near Bristol and Bath.  It was my birthday and we wanted to have a day out together to celebrate before Helena goes up to Argyll again next week.  The weather wasn't as good as we'd hoped so changed our minds about going to the seaside at Clevedon in Somerset.  But we will go there soon as we like it so much and want to enjoy being by the sea again .

So we changed our plans and chose Dyrham Park which we can visit using our National Trust membership.  The house is being renovated but we still enjoyed going, especially as we could get up to the roof areas which also afforded views out over the surrounding landscape.  The sun began to shine late in the afternoon just as we were about to leave.  We headed back to have a cup of tea in the car and then having spotted the deer not too far from the carpark, I suggested trying to approach them.

The herd of fallow deer roamed slowly across the grasslands under occasional tree cover close to the highest parts of the land.  One female came up towards us quite unperturbed, but the rest of the herd stayed together as they either grazed or sat in groups.  They were obviously troubled by their growing antlers and flies were swarming around the bleeding poarts of the antlers.  (If you look closely you can see the flies)  They kept shaking their heads which obviously itched a lot and rubbed antlers against the ground and occasionally against each other, but in a respectful way.  Not at all like the imminent battles which will soon arise as hormones change their behaviour and the rutting begins in earnest.  We may have to come back to observe that too.


I nearly chose another shot, so I've added it as an 'Extra photo'.