Wednesday 2 May 2012

elaphus


At Holkham tonight we came upon a young stag in the track under the grey light of dusk. He stood and he looked, cocking his wide ears and tensing his Degas legs, then bounded to the safety of bracken, reed and holm oak. His mother, stately, staid, remained until her wayward teen came crashing back. Together then they sprang across the grazing marsh, into the coming night.

A grasshopper warbler reeled from a straggle of rose, two harriers tussled over nothing, the polished leathery leaves of spurge laurel caught the last light, and we, we were glad to be out on such a night.


New tonight

Mammals

56
red deer
Cervus elaphus

2012 Totals
Mammals: 56
Birds: 456
Reptiles: 12
Amphibians: 6
Fish: 3

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