Pastures new, and old

Forgive me friends, for my prolonged absence. I have been doing that most stressful of things – moving house. So here I am, all settled in, exploring pastures new. Newly located between numerous nature reserves, there’s plenty to see, but more on that at a later date.

Back to pastures old, and my patch – the Fen. My first visit here for sometime, all looks lush and green, a calm oasis to mend my frazzled soul. At 5am it’s comfortably cool and the birds are taking a little time to sing before flying off to forage for their young.

The path-side plants rise up, taller than me now. The purple-blue flowered vetch scrambles through bramble, hemp agrimony and meadowsweet are bursting into flower. As the landscape opens out, I spot the smallest movement, nearly missed her, a beautiful Roe deer doe in her russet summer coat is watching me. She calmly stares, her elegant head just visible amongst the  grass.

She turns her attention away from me, and I glance in that direction too. The buck, I suddenly realise, much closer to me. He ignores me and I finally put two and two together. It’s July, the Roe deer rutting season. The buck is far more concerned with what his missus is doing to worry about me, and never even looks my way.

I leave them to it, hoping to reacquaint myself with the other wildlife too. Another Reed warbler poses for me, and I watch two Little Egrets fly overhead.

On the way back I spot some young rabbits resting in the shade. I hesitate, but how can I resist such soft, cute little creatures. Cue silly commando style crawl over the dry prickly ground.

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