Monday 26th. September 2011

This morning , I arrived on the Downs with the license holder , to check the 50 small mammal traps . I asked how many were trapped yesterday , getting an answer of 2 Wood Mice , 1 Short-tailed Vole and one  Common Shrew . But , with the traps having been in situ longer , better results were expected today . I have to admit that the number trapped was up , but 6 Wood Mice was as good as it got . I could have done with a few Vole or Shrew shots , especially close up , but it wasn't to be .As it was so close , and  the drizzle was giving way to a few bright spells , I made another visit to Knoll Park to see how the Fallow Deer rut was progressing . Passing around the high ground on the way to the car park , not a deer in sight , and positively no rutting taking place . I walked to the top of the high ground and headed down the other side , with the intention of looking for the Devil's Fingers fungi again . On my way , I came across the animal that I mentioned after the last visit that could be a

contender , spreading his scent amongst the bracken . Although he knew I was close by , he took practically no notice of me , and after letting every other male know that this was his territory , he

sauntered off to the gym . The gym being , a large branch that had fallen from a nearby Beech , and obviously , this was how he built up the neck muscles , as he lifted it clear of the ground on several occasions . He was giving the equipment another good work out , so I left him and went looking for fungi . Again I failed to find any Devils Fingers , and with warm weather being forcasted for the rest of the week , it could well be some time before they appear . In the area , I did find the odd specimen

of the Wax Cap , Hygrocybe coccinea / Scarlet Hood , but no sign of the target species . Making my way back towards the high ground , I met up with the contender again , and it looked as if his work

out had been a bit too strenuous , as he was taking a rest in the shade at the foot of a large Beech . As I got back to the top of the high ground , I heard my first bellow of this year's rut . Whilst I had been away two stags had taken up station , one amongst the trees , the most coverted place , and the other

had settled into one of the many pits surrounding the trees . Neither seemed to know what they were doing there , and even less when the odd doe came to see what all the noise was about . A third stag

moved into one of the lower pits , and although noisy , he didn't seem to know what to do either . I'm sure the contender will sort these two out , once he makes his appearance . The only action seen was

between two very young stags , with a gentle clink as they touched antlers , compared to the crash of the older animals . It will be some time before either will be a contender , perhaps a pretender .
I did make a short stop at Sevenoaks Reserve on my way home , but things were really quiet .

A female Teal was paddling around outside Willow Hide ,

several male Migrant Hawkers were enjoying the sun , in between territorial battles ,

and the only Kingfisher seen was taking a nap , as far from the hide as it possibly could .