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 |
Great pictures Andy. I've been meaning to get out with the cameras again as I'm wondering about Muntjac in the area.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Also great shots of the SEO's. Is dusk a good time to spot them?
Thanks Martin, the only report I have heard of Muntjac was apparently on the track above Lumb Lane a couple of years ago. Camera traps are probably the best bet.
ReplyDeleteMid-afternoon (2pm onwards) probably best for Short-eared at the moment.
Correct name for male fallow deer is a buck and not a stag.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that, I think I've made that mistake before
ReplyDeleteAndy
Hi Andy I have seen the Norwegian fallow deer a number of times in the evening on the track upto cratcliffe and robinhoods stride from the parking on b5056. I have in fact just seen one today
ReplyDeletebrilliant to have this blog to document the fallow. i had no idea we had any around here until recently. I saw a bunch of does above rowsley in the woods to the left of where it says rowlsey on your map. WHere is the best spot to see the bucks, and where do they spend their spring? I'm off on a search for them and their cast antlers tomorrow any help would be appreciated. Give me a reply or text me if you want to keep their destination a secret. cheers
ReplyDelete07729462937
Hi Harry, apologies for the delay in responding just got back from France.
ReplyDeleteThere are several places where the bucks congregate; Clough Wood is a popular spot but they are difficult to view in the woodland. The fields north of Dale View Quarry and the fields on the right of the road below Stanton in Peak heading down to the B5056 opposite Stanton Hall are also good areas
Yes Andy ...we live above Snitterton and had four in the garden this morning... regular visitors and have been for at least the last 11 years we've lived here.
ReplyDeleteWe're a good mile or so closer to Matlock than Wensley...right up on the hill and they eat in our garden :)
contact me if you need to... tsaunders@leawoodtech.com
Thanks for that, their range clearly extends a bit further south than I have it on my map.
ReplyDeleteI go and see them every week in the small woods straight across enthovens in darley bridge. I get really close to them too even when walking my dog. Love seeing them and managed to get a good close up photo with my sister camera last Sunday. I'm yet to see a big buck though. Also saw them in clough wood a number of times.
ReplyDeleteSeen at Meadow Place Wood this morning
ReplyDeleteIs there a way we can share our images with you? I take photos of the deer round Stanton, regularly.
ReplyDeleteHave some from this morning!
You can alway e-mail me at andysbutler@aol.com
DeleteRegards
Andy
We were walking the Heritage trail from Darley Dale to Matlock today, and were on the West side of the river, nearer Martock saw two large black deer with huge antlers. Beautiful! Never seen them before so very excited.
DeleteGood afternoon. I'm intrigued by the name of 'Norwegian' fallow deer - can you possibly tell me where this comes from, or where you first came across it?
ReplyDeleteNot entirely sure but I've seen several references to black Fallow Deer originating in Norway, this is from the Derbyshire Mammal Group web site;
ReplyDelete'Further introductions to Great Britain took place later, including some dark-coloured or black animals from Norway for James I.'
There are lots of fallow deer on Cannock Chase with black colouring but I'd never heard of Norwegian Black Fallow Deer until today so I don't know if it's a variation of the normal herd or one you are looking for
ReplyDeleteI’ve been walking in Wesley today and spotted a group of these deer. What a wonderful sight.
ReplyDeleteEdge of somewhere
Delete22 September 2020 at 19:34
Alan J Rodwell.
Tuseday 22nd September 6.14
Black Norwegian Fallow deer Doe and Fawn 2off
Lee's road just south of Stanton Moor
Have a 30 sec video.
mogog19@hotmail.co.uk
Alan J Rodwell.
ReplyDeleteTuseday 22nd September 6.14
Black Norwegian Fallow deer Doe and Fawn 2off
Lee's road just south of Stanton Moor
Have a 30 sec video.
mogog19@hotmail.co.uk
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJust seen a buck and about 5 does in the contaminated slag piles opposite Enthoven’s . They often come and eat in the garden in Darley Bridge
ReplyDeleteHi, haven’t walked into enthovens hoping to see deer, our attempt was thwarted by some noisy tree felling. Tho walking out and across the road above cross green I saw a silhouette of a buck on top of oker hill by the trig... amazing to see would’ve made an amazing photo!
ReplyDeleteI've seen them several times on Harthill Moor (area North of Dale End on your map) in summer, most recently a group of half a dozen bucks last May. I think they're also up on Bonsall Moor sometimes in winter.
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely cross the B5056 onto Harthill Moor - seen there more than once in the last month.
ReplyDeleteHi, I saw 2 bucks yesterday on Bonsall Moor, just south of Blakelow Hill at SK255590
ReplyDeleteHi Saw a herd of about 20 in field between Clough Wood and Sabine Hay Wood
ReplyDeleteHad one deer alone in my front garden in the middle of Bakewell. Stunning.
ReplyDeleteI saw 5 at Pikehall/Newhaven area last week. I think they were all does or young males.
ReplyDeleteDon't know if this blog still works but there were 18 black fellows grazing next to Nine Stones Close on Wednesday 7th June
ReplyDeleteWe often see them in the fields between Youlgreave and Elton. There was a stunning black buck with his growing antlers between Elton and Robin Hoods stride on our walk today
ReplyDeleteI didn't know what species they were, searched, found this. Saw three today, one buck with antlers, between Cork Stone and the quarry.
ReplyDeleteOne buck and two does today in valley between Elton and Robin Hood's Stride
ReplyDeleteHi Andy. We have just moved to Oker Terrace, which overlooks Oker Hill toward Riber Castle and Bonsall. I see them from my front bedroom in the evening. We thought they were unusual, as they looked nearly black. Then we googled it and came across your blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Andy, we live in Oker we regularly see these deer in the woods that circle Oker Hill. They often spend the night in the copse along side our house. Also, we sometimes see them in the fields west of a line between Aston Lane, snitterton Hall and Leawood Cottage. Haven't seen them east of this line.
ReplyDeleteWe have loads walking round our factory site in Darley dale.
ReplyDeleteIt's a really shame that the deer are being murdered on the Haddon Hall estate by the game keepers Alec Neville and Rob Ackin .
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon. As a woodland ranger and manager I thought I would put my 2p worth in. So I've been into woodland conservation for a long while, these particular deer are melanistic fallow (buck+doe). There are 3 types of fallow but these are the most interesting of the colours..
ReplyDeleteFallow are also a grouping deer so it's not uncommon to find groups of above 200 where they are allowed to breed and feed well. If they find a plantation where new growth is rife then why would they want to move on.
The problem occurs when you don't manage the numbers as 100 can quite easily be 175 the year after and so on. I've seen comments on sites to the effect of why do you cull deer, they are nice to see. Yes they are in the proportion to the woodland they live in. Too high a population in a small area and you will get serious damage to plants, trees and generally anything they can reach.
I do manage numbers on a range of different land, private gardens to commercial forest blocks and it needs to happen. Noone who has the proper training and tickets will just cull everything in view.
Where management takes place the woodland or area recovers well and new growth can grow into mature woodland with a nice floor covering .
I'm not a advocate of shooting everything on site but where fencing isn't working , management is another option.
Only 2 species of deer in this country are truly native. Red and roe deer . Fallow are seen to be native but are not, along with sika, found in Dorset, Scotland and Ireland, Chinese water deer which are found in the east water regions of England , muntjac which are the most prolific breeders as they give birth all year round(72hrs a doe is NOT pregnant before being served again)!
Hope this doesn't come across the wrong way, I am very invested into deer and woodland management. Cheers.