Rut and roll is a magnificent spectacle . . .
IT was first light, and the wind in my face, as I reached a clearing in the wood, it felt exactly the same as it did when I was twenty.
Refreshing and surprising, a bit like when you breathe out after brushing your teeth with minty toothpaste, heralding bright light and a distant view to some other wild place and holding promise of more wild creatures.
The only thing different is that, I now know not to break cover too quick, it’s the same when you reach a skyline, so I carefully peered in both directions from behind a tree to spot the Edglings.
The creatures only come out of the woods when it is safe to do so, and mine was just emerging with steam pouring from his nostrils and fire in his belly, he, was a red deer stag, and it was time to rut and roll.
The dramatic sparring and bellowing when two stags meet, is an ancient joust, a timeless ceremony enacted each year, and I was eager to watch another bout. The stag’s pose and strut, stamp their feet, side up to each other, assessing their opponent and attempting to assert authority. If neither backs down, fights can follow with the stags aggressively locking antlers to settle the matter. They don’t really want to hurt each other, just to prove a point and maybe even hope that the hinds are watching!
The antlers are a real force to be reckoned with, weighing up to 3kgs each - the equivalent of carrying six bags of sugar around on your head.
The RSPB, (I know, a bird society) are also very interested in other wildlife on their Reserves, and they are keen for readers to see the rut for themselves.
Johann Holt, RSPB Visitor Services Advisor, says: “This wildlife spectacle really is something special. Hearing the belching call of the stag as the stand-off begins sends shivers down your spine. Usually quiet sites suddenly host one of the most dramatic, exciting natural mating rituals and you can literally hear the antlers clashing.
“It’s wonderful to be able to see it for yourself and when it finishes, there is still lots more to see in nature at this time of year and you could see some beautiful autumn migrant birds in the trees and hanging off feeders.
And as the ruts wind down, the RSPB will help you watch out for a whole host of other spectacular autumn wildlife, such as winter migrant birds heading to our shores to escape the freezing cold temperatures in their own countries, like the twenty whooper swans in Longdendale this week, and the fresh flush of thrushes from the Viking lands including redwings and fieldfares.
Talking of which, as I write I’ve just seen a flock of redwings over Padfield. Redwings are small thrushes which migrate from Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia. Bet it’s brassy up there.
My watch was on the hills above Loch Ness, and my stag didn’t let me down; crash, bang, wallop, and the pretender to his throne beat a hasty retreat. And as for that fresh morning breeze, even at 60-something, it’s as electric as my first kiss.