Red Deer at Loch Quoich

Loch Quoich with the Knoydart hills beyond
At the western end of Loch Quoich, where the single track road rounds a headland near a burn called the Alt Nighean Eobhain, I came upon a small group of grazing Red Deer (Cervus elaphus).

I was struck at first that all of the deer in the group were stags until I read that for much of the year the stags and hinds lead separate lives, forming separate-sex herds. Male calves live with their mothers for a couple of years, but with the onset of maturity they leave to join male herds. This group were quite nervous of me but with care I was lucky enough to get close views and take the following pictures ...

A young stag with the steep slopes of Sgurr Mor, on the south side of Loch Quoich, in the background
Another of the group with Loch Quoich in the background

The Pictures to 'A Perfect Highland Day'

The first set of pictures from my recent trip to the west coast of Scotland highlights the splendid highland scenery seen during my day in Glenelg.

The view across Loch Loyne towards the snow-capped Beinn Loinne (right, behind the spur) and the long ridge of Druim nan Cnamh to the south of Loch Cluanie
Looking across Loch Hourn, near Arnisdale, towards Barrisdale Bay and the Knoydart mountains
An atmospheric view of Eigg at the entrance to the Sound of Sleat
A Feral Goat kid (Capra hircus) seen in road-side undergrowth in Glen Shiel
A Red Deer hind (Cervus elaphus) seen near the road in Glen Shiel