8 September β 3 October
the coastal calendar, shifted 14 days later for this region
Forest edge at first and last light, standing still until you have walked past.
Roe deer are the classic delayed-implantation species: mated in July, the embryo sits dormant until December so that birth lands in May. A fawn found alone in grass has not been abandoned β the doe is feeding nearby and will not return while you are there.
photos, sightings and recordings, off this site
where this species is on the list
| Phase | When | Length | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| raising young | 24 May β 3 July | 41 days | Dependent young in the nest, den or burrow, being fed. |
| young out of the den | 4 July β 2 August | 30 days | Young out of the nest or den, but still fed and followed by the adults. |
| courting | 3 August β 7 September | 36 days | Song, display, fighting, scent-marking β pairs forming or reaffirming. The rut is in high summer; the fawns from it are born ten months later. |
| pregnant | 8 September β 3 October | 26 days | Pregnant. Nothing to see from outside, which is why the dates matter. |
| moulting | 4 October β 14 November | 42 days | Feathers or coat replaced. Many birds go quiet and hide while it happens. |
| going about the year | 15 November β 23 May | 190 days | Feeding, holding territory, doing nothing the calendar singles out. |