Oh Deer

[paulmurphy]

We were up in David's neck of the woods yesterday (Jedburgh) and stopped at the JedForest deer park on the way - the place is in need of some TLC to my mind, but most importantly the animals looked healthy and happy. Here are a few shots of some of the inhabitants.







All taken with the A700 + Sigma 70 - 200 f2.8 HSM

Thanks for looking

Paul

[David Kilpatrick]

It's looking good and natural, for sure. Did you do the walk round the ponds - would have been good for wild fruit right now, especially blackberries. I notice that many of the deer are not ear-tagged, now that does back up what you say. We usually go once a year and like the piggery and the Soay and Devon sheep and stuff like that, also the falconry section. But if they are having the usual difficulties, maybe there is not so much there now?

David

[David Kilpatrick]

Hey, I forget to mention - we were eating Border deer and redcurrant sausages tonight. Very possibly from Jedforest, the local supermarket chain now buys in as much doorstep-produced farm stuff as possible. So I'm afraid we might have been eating their older brothers.

David

[paulmurphy]

We didn't do the pond walk as my wife has a dodgy knee at present and didn't fancy it.

I'm sure the sausages would have been great, always better to have non-factory farmed meat. We also recently were at the place where my eldest goes lambing - Fontburn rare breeds, near Rothbury and they now have a cafe with Goats on the Roof (an idea they saw in the US) and are selling their own pork sauasages from rare breed pigs (absolutely gorgeous). They are startinig small but hope to grow into a larger attraction - they certainly have the room. I took some photos fpr them when we visited, will post a few in this thread, in case people would like a look.

Best wishes

Paul

ps I've just printed the Hind picture at A3 for an upcoming competition and it prints very well indeed.

[Birma]

Hi Paul, very nice images - deer are very graceful animals and I like the inquisitive look in the third image - was she expecting to be fed .

[Ewannawe]

I was up that way myself last month with the family, but we didn't even go in such was the run down impression I got from just looking at it. Followed the road around and found all the deer in a field behind the place. Ended up driving through Kelso and Wooler to complete a round trip home. Got a couple of wild deer shots on a previous trip to Scotland, but quite distant - they're skittish creatures.

[Dr. Harout]

I like very much the second one with its beautiful bokeh-ish background.

[paulmurphy]

Here are some otherrare breed animals, again small producers, breeding animals for quality rather than quantity.

Taken at Fontburn rare breeds/Goats on the roof

Goats on the roof



Rooster in the field



A piglet being happy - he had just been fed and then lay down to sleep



Cheers

Paul

[Greg Beetham]

I like all those Murph, that first one is a beauty.
Greg

[aster]

I love them all, Paul.

You know by now how I adore animals and you always have a way of shooting them! : )

The first of the last post is very amusing with the goats on the roof...

Yildiz

[Birma]

Very nice pictures of 'farm yard friends' Paul - especially like the piglet .

[Dr. Harout]

I like the piglet shot too. Wonderful.

[aster]

The piglet shot?

Yes, that one is lovely both photo-wise and the piglet himself. He certainly is in his own comfort zone...

Yildiz

[Dusty]

The piglet shot?

Yes, that one is lovely both photo-wise and the piglet himself. He certainly is in his own comfort zone...

Yildiz

I wonder if he's dreaming of being bacon on my plate someday?

Dusty

[aster]

The piglet shot?

Yes, that one is lovely both photo-wise and the piglet himself. He certainly is in his own comfort zone...

Yildiz

I wonder if he's dreaming of being bacon on my plate someday?

Dusty

He definitely wouldn't be lying so leisurely if he did know that! It would be the promise of a long, messy run around the muddy field for the farmer if this little guy knew...

Yildz