No Sign of Rut in Richmond Park, and Some Very Little Grebes

Having lived in London for over ten years, I thought it was time to pay Richmond Park a visit! Bank Holiday Monday might not have been the best choice; I thought I had driven into some kind of vortex of Oxford Circus, the Tour De France and the London Marathon. 

However, it was quite easy to leave the crowds by simply walking away from the perimeter paths.  Away from the tight fitting gaudy Lycra wearing cyclists, the wildlife highlights were of course the deer. We came across a herd around the south side of the park.  They were sitting in the shade and were attended by a number of Jackdaws. 

Once they were on the move I managed to get a few shots of the spectacular stags.  There was no sign of rutting yet,  just some amateurish practicing from the younger males.

On the previous day at London WWT,  a couple of young Little Grebes were fishing very close to one of the boardwalk paths.  I hadn't seen many young Grebe's at the site this summer, either I completely missed them or these were second broods.  Some of the Little Grebes were very young.