Stag in velvet

Taken at Richmond Park, one of a group of four Red Deer stags doing a spot of idle sun-bathing. Currently Stags are at the stage where they are growing their new antlers and, when they do this, their antlers are covered in a soft layer of velvet which they will strip in the summer.

Also, their fur is quite patchy and scruffy whilst they go through the moult, the paler fur being replaced with a much richer red colour.

I got far too close to these wonderful beasts. Did make me a bit hungry.