Quod oculus meus videt

By GrahamColling

Should Have Gone to Specsavers

A cultural reference, which might not translate easily for people outside the UK (Specsavers is an opticians and they have a series of adverts on the TV where people mistake things because they aren't wearing glasses).

I was watching the deer, the dominant stag roaring his intent to keep his small entourage of hinds close to him and a couple of younger stags drifted around the edge of the field.  From time to time there were forays closer to the females by these younger males.  It caused a reaction from this stag, and he  out and began to walk parallel to the younger stag (a move recognised after watching Autumnwatch as part of the rutting behaviour of red deer).  They then turned and tracked back in the opposite direction.  It was as the younger stag turned slightly inwards in a threatening behaviour that the dominant male mirrored that action and then started to chase his opposition away.  No clashing of antlers, one images that this is all the early sparring rounds of a fight still to reach its crescendo.

Anyway, as the largest male came back to the small group you could see him sniffing the females, though they seem unresponsive to his charms as yet.  It was therefor doubly surprising to see this happen.  At the distance I was standing away from the action, I couldn't tell if this was a young male, though from its size I doubted it.  Whatever, it was a bit of a mistake.

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