Following on the training days I have done at WWT Barnes with Iain Green I decided to go to one of the guided days in Richmond Park to photograph the deer rut. This is a regular event run by Iain and one of his photos from here features on the cover of his book. (Which incidentally I won in the intermediate photography day last year).
We a group of four and Iain) met at 07:45 on a dull day and immediately saw a small herd of red deer with a large stag keeping order. There was a minor challenge from a smaller stag but a few bellows and a trot towards him from the 'boss' soon put paid to that. The London skyline was just about visible but it was quite murky.
The morning brightened slightly but the skies remained overcast and later on the rain returned. Despite this there were plenty of deer to see and much bellowing echoing across the park.
There was plenty of autumn colour in the trees and bracken, it just needed a bright blue sky to really make the colours stand out.
As the light was low I took advantage of the longer shutter speed to try a zoom burst of the leaves.
We came across several types of fungi were growing up in the grass and dead tree trunks.
The walk finished at 2 P.M. and shortly after that the rain really came down hard so I was glad to be back in the car.
