Thursday 22nd. September 2011

I thought I would have another trip to Knole Park this morning , as two weeks have passed since the failed trip for the Fallow Deer rut . I have to report that once again there was no activity on the high ground , but I don't think it is too far off . Having been disappointed on the high ground , I had a wander around the slopes surrounding it , concentrating on large area of Bracken . From the tracks and flattened Bracken , it was obviously well used by the deer for shelter , and by the look of it , for sleeping . As I wandered through the bracken , I came face to face with this boy , just look at the

muscles in his neck , and the air sack in his throat that will allow him to roar . I just managed to get the one shot before he turned and walked off . I watched him from a distance , and at one point he crossed some open ground , allowing a full shot of an animal that I think will be a contender for the

'king of the hill' . I left him hovering , just below the hill , and as I said , things will kick off soon . The only other interest found on site was a fungi that fruits at the base of deciduous trees ,

especially Oak and Beech , and this one , the size of a football , was at the base of an Oak . With things so quiet , I decided to visit Sevenoaks Reserve , which is only a short drive away . My first stop was to see if I could strike lucky with the Kingfisher again . I had several flybys and saw it catch

a couple of fish , but never came closer than the far corner of the lake . Until , it just appeared much

closer , but , just as I got it in focus , it took off again , leaving me a blurred shot of the action . In

between views , I spotted a good sized Grass Snake swim into view from the right , looking as if it was struggling . It slowly made it's way to a mat of Blanket Weed , where it managed to haul itself out and get it's breath back . While it was resting , two Grey Herons circled the lake , and criss-crossed the Grass Snake . I felt sure that one of them was going to take it , but neither did .

Eventually , the Herons flew off , and the Grass Snake took it's chance to sprint for the overhung bank , and safety . All this happened at 20/25 metres out from the hide . Still nothing special on the large lake , and as I walked between it and the Long Lake , I was escorted by a family of Mute Swans

who were moving between the two lakes . The one in front , with attitude , was the cob , followed by the pen and their cygnet . The only other interest found was a juvenile Cormorant , a species not

easily approached , but was more concerned with the large number of Canada Geese that were around , rather than a bloke with a camera .