Scruffy Stag

I started with a visit to Cannock Chase, as I wanted to see what stage of flowering the heather was in Sherbrooke Valley. While some individual plants in sheltered areas were in flower, it looks like it will be a couple of weeks before the large drifts of heather will be in full bloom.

I walked around Brocton Quarry, a conservation area where the local fallow deer herd naturally congregate. It took some time to see any deer, but once I was standing on the high wall of the quarry, I could see them in the area below. There should be newly born fawns amongst the herd, but unless they were hidden in the long grass, none were visible. As far as I am aware, red deer are not found on Cannock Chase.

It was only as I drove back home that I noticed this stag in an open area, along with the one photographed last week. I've never seen a stag in this state, just as the velvet covering of the antlers has predominantly come away, hanging off in disarray.  You can also see near the area where the antlers join with the head reddened areas, probably indicating that this has only happened in the last day or so.

I spent a a few minutes waiting for him to lift his head and stare at me, I was still a good 20 metres away and they both seemed quite comfortable with my presence.