Sabre toothed Deer

This little lad came close enough to photograph the other day. Just look at those retractable tusks!

Taken to tusk

I quite like Chinese Water Deer. They are very ‘bambi’ like. Much cuter than the rather brusk faced Muntjac. This one appeared out of the reedbed as we were waiting for Bittern. Although he was be-tusked and moulting he didn’t lose any of his charm.

Beautiful

We saw this Chinese Water Deer on tour last weekend. A small alien from the other side of the world but no less beautiful for that.

 

Graceful encounter

Stood at the gate we watched the scrub moving at the far edge of the stubble field.

Out popped a deer. It was a Chinese Water Deer. Much more benign and attractive than the Reeve’s Muntjac our other small introduced deer this individual actually ran towards us. Something we couldn’t see must have spooked it. The animal gave us a close encounter as it ran gracefully passed.

Dusk Lover

Chinese Water Deer are one of those animals that doesn’t like daylight. It’s not until dusk starts to creep into the equation that it start to come alive. I saw this one as I was walking back to the car last week. The day had been unusually mild. It had obviously been laid among the sedges absorbing the warmth from the winter sun. As the shadows got longer it was starting to cool. The deer stood up and shook itself before slipping away behind the vegetation again.

Let me take this opportunity to wish all Letter from Norfolk readers a very Merry Christmas and remind you all we’ve turned a corner …the days are now getting longer!

Bit of a mess

Walking out through the saltmarsh the other day we happened upon this little chap. Truth is he was in a bit of a mess. In full moult, a damaged left eye and some ear injuries this Chinese Water Deer looked far from his best.