The Rut!

It's that time of year again...

Over the next few weeks the annual rut will take place; this is a fantastic time to observe the deer, it is a fascinating time of year. The males that have spent lazy summer days together, growing antlers and putting on weight (in preparation for the rut) become less tolerant of each other and separate.

Triggered by shorter daylight hours, they will begin to call; the Red Deer have a loud bellow that can be heard over long distances while the Fallow make a noise that can be best described as a belching rasp!

Bellowing Deer: Photos courtesy of Ben Pickersgill - Flickr

Wallows are dug out in a wet area with thrashing antler and pawing hoof, they are urinated in before wallowing begins to give the animal not only a fearsome appearance but a pungent smell too! Antlers may be adorned with grass for a similar reason. All this display, vocal and physical, is to intimidate rivals and to attract females. Bucks will “parallel walk”, walking along side each other over long distances, calling and sizing each other up. Fighting is a last resort. Antlers clash, locked together in a pushing match to decipher the strongest animal, this may go on for some time with two evenly matched individuals. The weaker one will eventually back down and retreat, the victor will often at this point, call at them in celebratory fashion. Injuries do occur but are thankfully uncommon. During the rut the males cease feeding.

Wallowing in the mud: photos courtesy of Ben Pickersgill - Flickr

The differences between Red & Fallow Deer

The two species of deer here at Tatton employ two different strategies to facilitate successful mating. Red Deer physically herd together a group of females known as a harem and move around with them, defending them against any interloper. Young males are often seen on the peripheries of the group, opportunists waiting for the alpha male to be distracted!

Fallow Deer have a totally different technique; they choose a territory, often in woodland on raised ground. This is known as a “stand” where the Buck will call from to attract does into his territory. Branches in the area will have scent on them, smeared from a gland just below their eye; this is visible on the buck’s face. 

The females only come season for a twenty four hour period and only during this time will she stand for the male. If she is not covered early in the rut, she will again come into season later, but this is not ideal as it leads to late calves the following year.

The rut ends in November; then the males gorge themselves on acorns desperate to replenish energy in time for the on set of winter.

We would like to thank Ben Pickersgill, a park visitor who very kindly sent in and allowed us to use these wonderful Deer images, that really capture the Deer Rut.

For more fantastic images of the parkland and its wildlife visit our Facebook page or find us on Flickr. 

Darren Morris, Park Ranger

Winter Wildfowl Watch

The Winter Wildfowl Watch held in the bird hide on Melchett Mere on 15^th Jan was a great success.

Melchett Mere in the summer

The weather was stunning, a beautiful winter's day with  bright sunshine over the mere illuminating various species of Wildfowl. Their stunning plumage was viewed with the aid of telescopes set up in the Allen Hide.

Members of the Knutsford Ornithological Society and myself helped members of the public to use them and help identify the birds. Goldeneye, Teal, Wigeon Mallard and Pochard were seen along with Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe. Woodland species could be seen on the bird feeding station including Coal Tit, Nuthatch and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Between 30-40 visitors called into the hide during the session and were very well received. The visitors also included many children which was especially pleasing as their reaction to seeing new birds through a telescope in such bright conditions was great. A Buzzard perched in a tree was the children’s favourite!

Darren Morris, Tatton Park Ranger

Feeding time...

The relatively new Allen Bird Hide built overlooking Melchett Mere is now augmented by a bird feeding station. Peanuts and bird seed will be fed either side of the hide to attract a variety of woodland birds.

Woodpecker ©Gary Cross

Many tit species plus finches and woodpeckers should be in attendance. It may take a little time to get going but as the natural food supply dwindles it should prove a popular lifeline for the birds.

Darren Morris, Tatton Park Ranger

Park life

Autumn is a season of change. Colder weather and shortened daylight hours warn our flora and fauna of the prospect of inhospitable conditions and dwindling food supply. Nature acts accordingly, whether it be trees dropping leaves or a bird flying thousands of miles for sunnier climes.

Bird migration is well underway and visible migration was evident in the parkland with recent sightings of Common Terns, Wheatear and Common Sandpiper. Meadow Pipits become a regular sight as they move from their summer upland breeding grounds. Winter Thrushes, Redwing and Fieldfare arrive from Scandinavia and Pink-footed Geese may be seen flying over in typical V formation.

Visitors enjoying the bird hide

©George Littler

Our resident birds are also joined by continental visitors of the same species to enjoy our relatively milder winters. The popular new Allen Hide will be a great place to witness the arrival of numerous wildfowl species also arriving from colder northern climes. A new bird feeding station will also be in operation here, enabling visitors to enjoy the woodland species at close quarters.

Find out more about the parkland and wildlife at Tatton Park on our website.

Darren Morris, Tatton Park Ranger