Wolves Wild

Vervain, flowering in early November. One of the plants in the Bancroft Gardens by the Stratford on Avon Canal Basin where the canal meets the Avon in the centre of Stratford.

As the deer were re-grouping after clambering out of the river at Charlecote Park, a kingfisher landed on the riverbank, looking at the same short stretch of water the egrat had been watching. It stayed there watching for a short time as the deer moved off, then something disturbed it. It flew off a short distance upstream before landing in a tree, out of sight from our position.

The main gathering of the fallow deer herd at Charlecote Park, seen from the road outside the park earlier this month. The adult stags had their full antlers as the rutting season was drawing to its close. We were to far away to be sure whether the herd were so closely grouped together because they were standing under trees to shelter from the intermittent rain that day.

Shortly after spotting the little egret fishing in the River Dene at Charlecote Park, noticed something large swimming in the water. It was half, hidden by the foliage of the riverside trees, but finally it could be seen clearly enough as a deer.

The deer began to clamber up the bank, just yards upstream from the egret, which promptly took off and retreated a short distance further into the park. The deer was revealed as the leader of a group of four fallow deer. The group headed off, with much looking around, in much the same direction as the bird had done.

Bird footprints left in soft mud, River Avon, Stratford. After heavy rain, the river had, just, overflown its banks. As it receded, it left behind a thin band of silt, forming soft mud which was taking clear footprints. These were probably made by one of a resident pair of wagtails.

We decided that a charge of £10 per head was a bit steep to wnader round the grounds of Charlecote Park, so set off to see what was visible while walking along the road and a public footpath along the edge of the park.

As soon as we’d crossed the road bridge over the River Dene, there was a little egret fishing in the river. It carried on fishing for a few minutes, undisturbed by our presence. Then it flew off, a little way beyond the far bank. Tune in again tomorrow to find out what had disturbed it.