Norweigian Fallow Deer - Birchover

A nice herd of 45 Norweigian Fallow Deer resting in the fields below Birchover this morning. I have received various reports of these Fallow Deer closer to Matlock and in the woods above Rowsley and they are continuing to expanding their range slowly. 

Fallow Deer of the melanistic form often referred to as Norweigian

Fallow Deer population - Clough Wood

I encountered two herds of black Fallow Deer close together at Clough Wood today totalling 53 animals which I suspect is close to the total population in this area. There were no adult bucks with them which I usually see on the Stanton side of the hills.

Fallow Deer

Norwegian Fallow Deer - distribution

Managed to find a small group of the Norwegian Fallow Deer this morning near Stanton. Two stags with fine sets of antlers and three younger males. The antlers look slightly orange at this time of year.
I've done an approximate distribution map of these Black or Norwegian Fallow Deer and I'd be interested to hear of any sightings outside this area or where I have put the question marks.
I've never seen any of these deer east of the River Derwent but have seen them either side of the River Wye near Haddon Hall and I think they must cross the Wye somewhere in this area. I was uncertain of their occurrence in Manners Wood until Martin Derbyshire caught several animals on camera traps. They are also now seen in the Coombs Road area and I wonder if they have moved into this area relatively recently.

Norwegian Fallow Deer

Approximate distribution of Norwegian Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer - Stanton-in-Peak

A small group of the melanic Fallow Deer just below Stanton today.

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer - Stanton

Came across a small group of the melanic Fallow Deer near Stanton, there were several stags with them including this one which has a decent set of antlers.

Fallow Deer stag

Fallow Deer - Chatsworth

Early morning light at Chatsworth provided some nice back lighting for this group of Fallow Deer hinds.

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer buck crossing the Derwent at Chatsworth

This young male Fallow Deer was just crossing the river as I arrived at Chatsworth this morning. The photo was taken at 07:30 when it was barely light and the ISO setting was at 8000, only a few years ago a photo like this would have been impossible without flash or a tripod and a very still deer.

Fallow Deer - buck

Fallow Deer fawn - Chatsworth

An evening trip to Chatsworth produced single Green Woodpecker, Dipper, a party of 12 Mandarin flying over and several Fallow Deer with fawns. I guess this youngster is about 3 months old but was still suckling.

Fallow Deer - fawn

Fallow Deer - safety in numbers

I've noticed a couple of times recently when driving through Chatsworth that there has been a tight huddle of what I presume are last years fawns. With some sunshine today I took a few photos of the group.

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer with autumn colours

James went to Chatsworth this morning and took this fine portrait of a buck Fallow Deer with what may prove to some of the last of the autumn leaves as background as the weather is set to get colder I hear.
He has updated some of the photos on his web site

Fallow Deer (James Butler)

Fallow Deer - Chatsworth

This stag has got tangled with a sycamore whilst rubbing the velvet off his antlers. All the stags were pre-occupied with dragging their antlers through the vegetation in readiness for the autumn rut.

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer - Clough Wood

I would like to photograph the Fallow Deer in the Stanton area over the autumn/winter so have been making a few visits to locate the flock and see which areas they are using. I estimate the herd at 45 - 55 but have also seen a further smaller population north of the river Lathkill at Haddon, all are of the black form and are therefore quite distinct from those at Chatsworth. Reading Derbyshire Mammals the herd was brought to Stanton Hall from Chartley Park in Staffordshire in 1800 from where escapes have occurred since the 1920's to establish the current population.
They are not easily approached and quickly retreat in to the woods when disturbed so obtaining decent photos is not as easy as it might appear for such a large animal.

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer - Chatsworth

We had around 10cm of snow fall last night so there was some great scenery today but getting around was a little difficult. These Fallow Deer at Chatsworth make a good comparison with the photo taken near Stanton last weekend.

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer

I came across this small group of Fallow Deer hinds by the Youlgreave Road. These are melanics, part of the herd which originated from Stanton Hall in the 1940's and which are usually in the Stanton -  Darley Bridge area.

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer at dusk

James took this stag Fallow Deer with several hinds at Chatsworth.

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer - Clough Wood

Part of a herd of 32 Fallow Deer at Clough Wood, all of these are melanic and therefore look quite different from the herd at Chatsworth. This herd apparently originated from Stanton Hall from where they escaped or were released in the 1920's. 

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer doe and fawn - Chatsworth

Visited Chatsworth this afternoon where there were many young fawns in with the Fallow Deer. These are quite distinct from those in the Clough Wood area which are all very dark.

Fallow Deer