These incredible photos of a tame red deer were shot by a walker as she wandered along the banks of the River Brue at Highbridge over the weekend.
Burnham-On-Sea.com reader Joy Russell says she “could hardly believe her eyes” when the animal appeared along the path beside the river and walked right up besides her.
She said: “It all happened when I took Charlie, my small dog, for a walk along the riverbank and thought I might get some pictures of the Wheatears and Pipits. Whilst sitting on a log and having a coffee, I saw a couple up on the seawall walking their Spaniel in the distance, but following a few paces behind was a lonesome red deer.”
“I couldn’t believe my eyes! But there it was, bold as brass, strolling along enjoying the company. I called up to the couple as they were passing and they said the deer had followed them all the way from Highbridge and had jumped all the gates on the way!”
“Anyway, they got so far and the deer spotted another couple who were walking in the opposite direction following the river’s edge doing a spot of birdwatching. The deer trotted down towards them and started following them instead!”
“They wandered over to me with the deer close behind. It wandered over and had a sniff of my coffee… brilliant!”
She thinks the animal had probably escaped from Alstone Animal farm a couple of miles away in nearby West Huntspill.
“I did get a shot of a Wheatear and a Pipit, but they sort of paled into insignificance!” she added.
