Young Fawn

[Sam W]

Probably just a few hours old. This youngster is this year's first to call my yard its home.

[IzzieK]

Lucky you! So very pretty...Is this a girlie? Do you know? I like the angle of #2 shot. How near were you able to get to it to take this shot? Did the mother left it for a while after birth? So many questions.

[Shadowman]

Nice set.

[Sam W]

Lucky you! So very pretty...Is this a girlie? Do you know? I like the angle of #2 shot. How near were you able to get to it to take this shot? Did the mother left it for a while after birth? So many questions.

Thanks Izzie. I do not know the gender but was wondering the same thing. As far as the shot, it seems that mother deer do not stay side-by-side with their young. Especially the mother of this deer. Last year, I could easily find the worried mother of a set of twins. The mother of this deer is more elusive but I catch a glimpse of her from time-to- time. The young deer stay motionless for long periods in the shade of cedar trees then eventually reunite with momma deer. During these periods one can get relatively close. I do not like hang around too long.

[flashback]

Nice shot Sam. You have a great shot of a fawn doing exactly what a fawn is supposed to do when 'threatened'; lay on the ground, head down and perfectly still.

A doe will typically have a single birth her first time and twins subsequent births, so she may be more cautious if this is her first birth. A doe will also stay away from the fawn for hours at a time, mostly so as not to lead a predator to the fawn. Key to fawn success is that when born it is mostly odorless. The doe will visit during the day to feed the fawn but otherwise she stays away.

Since it's doubtful the fawn can distinguish between what is a real hazard and what is not, coming in close to it is likely as stressful to it as if you were a predator. This said I think it's rare for a doe to abandon her fawn (and people often mistake a hidden fawn as an abandoned one) but supposedly the doe/fawn bond is not immediate and occurs over the span of a few weeks (often up to a month) before the fawn accompanies the mother all the time, so disturbing a fawn could conceivably force the doe to abandon the fawn.

[Davejl]

Wonderful shots of an exquisite natural beauty. I wonder what species it is, probably not one we have wild in England. The eyes look blue. You are very lucky to get these in your yard. Apart from an occasional fox I usually just get next door's cats chasing the wild birds!

[Manfred M]

Nicely seen, captured and processed Sam.

I just hope you didn't frighten the little one too much!

[Rita]

Not a shot that most of us would be able to get. Well captured and really cute.

[Sam W]

Thanks for the information Jack. I'm pretty sure this on was not on the ground because it originally felt threaten. Based on what I've seen, they instinctively find shelter from the hot sun under my dense eastern cedars. I've seem them just walk there and lay down for hours. I agree that once in that location they would exhibit the same behavior if threaten. Perhaps that is what you generally meant as you seem to be more of an expert than I. I'm just happy I could take a quick few shots and they came out in focus. I leave them be and a few weeks later I see them walking around every day with their Mom.

[Sam W]

Wonderful shots of an exquisite natural beauty. I wonder what species it is, probably not one we have wild in England. The eyes look blue. You are very lucky to get these in your yard. Apart from an occasional fox I usually just get next door's cats chasing the wild birds!

Hi Dave - they are Whitetail deer. They have sort of a short and wide tail that is white on the lower inside area and brown on the outside area. They raise their tails up when alerted like white flags and others in the small herd can see this motion. Usually it is just before they run to safety.

I also have some pictures of a black bear in my yard from last week but posting them would confirm how poor my photography skills really are. Thanks for the complements.

[Sam W]

Nicely seen, captured and processed Sam.

I just hope you didn't frighten the little one too much!

Thanks Manfred. I did not frighten it too much as it was still in my yard when I left. I only had a few minutes before I had leave. When I see it again in a few weeks I will post a family shot (doe & fawn). This will be a fun challenge at 120mm.

[Sam W]

Not a shot that most of us would be able to get. Well captured and really cute.

Thanks Rita - one of the simple pleasures I have. I also have a fly-by of an albino/grey turkey vulture. We think he is actually a spirit and fore-bearer of good fortune. I hope to get a photo of it some time as all the other ones are very dark colored.

[rpcrowe]

Heartwarming images. I also like #2 the best...

[FootLoose]

Beautiful shot, Sam. I think the 2nd one is off the scale on the cuteness factor.

[Davejl]

Hi Dave - they are Whitetail deer. They have sort of a short and wide tail that is white on the lower inside area and brown on the outside area. They raise their tails up with alerted like white flags and other in the small herds can see this motion. Usually it is just before they run to safety.

I also have some pictures of a black bear in my yard from last week but posting them would confirm how poor my photography really are. Thanks for the complements.

Thanks for the info, Sam. We don't get them wild in the U.K. The markings look a bit like our Fallow deer, but the Whitetail has bigger ears. A black bear sounds scary, but maybe a good way to keep my neighbour's pesky moggies out of my garden As for your bear photo, you can certainly take an excellent shot of a fawn!

Dave

[Ziggy]

Nice Sam. Have not seen any fawns yet. I do know some of the females have separated from the small group that passes by my area.

[Sam W]

Nice Sam. Have not seen any fawns yet. I do know some of the females have separated from the small group that passes by my area.

I suspect they are around. Glad you like the photos.

[bnnrcn]

Aww, lovely shots Sam

[Sam W]

Not a great shot but all is well in Smallville. Twelve days old.

[IzzieK]

The small one still belongs to the big cute factor here...