I was doing a waterbird count today, but despite this my main memory of the day was of deer, they seemed to be everywhere. On my way to open Ivy North hide a muntjac sauntered across the path in front of me, strictly they are Reeve’s muntjac and were introduced to the UK from the Far East. They are now widespread across much of England aided by being able to breed at as early as seven months! The muntjac was to quick for me to get a picture, or rather I was too slow to get the camera ready. A few metres further on a roe buck was on the lichen heath, but he headed off at speed. However by the Woodland hide there were two young roe and they wandered slowly to the side of the path before stopping to look back at me.
roe deer near Woodland Hide
On my way to Lapwing hide I disturbed a groups of fallow deer, these are less desirable as they go round in large groups and can do a lot of damage to our coppice and even pollards, as they will stand up on their hind legs to reach growth as high as 1.8m. This group of fallow is a real mixed bunch with typical spotted ones, white, beige and even black individuals.
fallow, just beside the path “hiding”
I did count the wildfowl, but I have to say numbers are pretty poor this winter, well below the five year average for almost all species apart from pochard. I found at least 21 goldeneye, but this included only four adult drakes and I know there were six earlier on, so perhaps I missed some, or they have already moved on. Other birds of note were 2 water pipit and two great white egret or just possibly one twice.
The only other thing that really caught my eye was a group of fungi, so far I have failed to get close to a name, so if you have any ideas I would be glad to hear from you.
unknown fungus
Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve 
Your headings are getting cornier and cornier, ha ha ha. That’s a gorgeous capture of that little Roe Deer. And TWO water pipit. I wonder if this is the start of them being commonplace in 10 years time like has happened to Egrets. The fungi look a little like Chanterelles, I wonder if fungi have families like flowers do 😉
Hi Bob,I’m no great expert on the fungi, but do spend some time and effort photographing them. My better half tries to do the ID. Your “unknown” looks to me as if it might be a “Splitgill” of some type. Hope this might help get you into the ballpark. ATB Bryn Jones
I think Splitgill is the most likely so far unless anyone has a better idea of course!