Saturday 1 February 2014

It's been a white-tail deery week!

Whack. "My seed!"
 But Babe gives as good as he gets!
My caregiving is going well. NOTE TO SELF: close to drainage port before attaching the day time Foley catheter bag. <sigh>

I am happy when the deer visit. It's a nice change in pace. This caregiving isn't for chumps.

The yearling's coat is so lovely and fuzzy.  Our usual visitors consist of what looks like momma and yearling, and an aunty. I think the yearling is a male, only because he stands up for himself, even towards Momma, when she comes over to nibble the pile of seed he was nibbling. Whack, with the foreleg. It's a deer-eat-deer world.
It's fun trying to capture a cute photo. They are watching intently for cats. The cats ignore them, but they are concerned, as we have mink, weasels, fishers, a vicious gopher (it snarled and jumped at me!), fox, coyote, and the like. Me, they are cautious of but by no means are they tame. One sudden move and they are gone. Sometimes, as I fill the bird feeder, they'll stamp and snort. I just stamp right back at them, then snort in return, and they take off!
Of course, Daisy bops up onto the caterpillar, and the sudden move makes them flee. The yearling hides behind momma!
She peers around the deck post at me.

You can see the difference in size:
yearling/mother.



"Yes? Are you something I should flee from?"
Love those big ears, as she listens for danger and movement behind her. I can tell when more deer, or the wild turkeys, are in the gully, coming up the hill into our yard. They all stare intently in the same direction. We've got the cleanest area under the bird feeder that you could imagine, despite the blue jays who pick and choose the best seed, and whack the rest onto the ground.

Chewing its cud, Babe rests in the sun.
Big, brown eyes keep a watch on us all.
 The fuzzy face is a hoot. I just kept click, through the sliding glass doors, into the backyard.
I love that tongue!

Deer are ruminants, with a four-chambered stomach. They can fill their stomachs in 1 or 2 hours, then they hunker down in the sunshine in our backyard and chew their cud, as cows do.

Join in and share your critter on Eileen's critter party. Her latest post is one the Grackles.

13 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Cute shots of the deer! They are pretty critters. Jennifer, thank you for linking up to my Saturday's Critters. Have a happy weekend!

TexWisGirl said...

so very beautiful!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I love seeing deer. They were really watching you!!

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! Wonderful shots of the deer herd ~ how fortunate to have them that close ~ over from SAT Critter ~ thanks,

carol, xxx
www.acreativeharbor.com

Louisette said...

So wonderfull fotos

Louisette said...

Wouff ! so beautifull ,wonderful shots

Ela said...

Very sweet and beautiful !
Have a nice weekend :)

Unknown said...

Awesome shots of the deer. They're cute critters.

Red said...

Super deer shots and comments . Deer do take a good look at us because I don't think they have great sight. They can disappear in a hurry.

Karen said...

Oh how cool to have these in your yard! Great shots!

Little Wandering Wren said...

Ohh too cute... with the snow on the nose and the little pink tongue just peeking out and those eyelashes to die for, no to mention the huge fur lined radar ears...
loved this post
Wren x

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Is it possible for deer NOT to be cute in a photo?? These are a definite plus in your life. (Oh and I too have had that closing portal lesson in the past...&*>) YAM xx

Elizabeth Edwards said...

oh, i really enjoy the close up's. usually the deer we see here in VA. they are very in need of a hair brush, unkempt & need a new do. these are too cute!! love those ears.

hi there - hopped over from "Saturday's Critters". nice to meet ya. (i know you, but new to Saturday's Critters.) hope you are having a good weekend!! ( :