Wildlife magic: Red poppies and Roe deer with the OM-1 Mk2 and 150-600mm lens.

[@micktoulmin4616]

Beautiful way to start Saturday morning thanks Mike 👍📷

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@dalemews1]

Roe deer are so elegant, but to see them in a field of poppies is spectacular.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@digidraxe8052]

Wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Pedro-nf2rr]

Hola: Espectacular, gracias por compartirlo y hablar un poco del objetivo.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@antonoat]

What a cracking film Mike. We live on a farm in North Yorks and just a couple of weeks ago I was watching the roe deer indeed eating poppies in a field of wheat! They are very beautiful animals and it's a aways a treat to see them. That combo you were using seems to do a great job with photos and video! I've been photographing wildlife in an amateur capacity for forty or so years and until recently never used a video head before, well I bought a light weight version and I must say it's literally a revelation, so much more versatile than a gimble in my opinion, I'm thinking I may buy a more substantial version of a video head in the future! Cheers and thanks for sharing your great work with us ! Tony.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you. I have always preferred video heads.

[@soarornor]

Beautiful imagery. Two of my favorite subjects. Very magical space for the deer. Your waiting really paid off for those last shots. I take video and still photos of deer that have been visiting me for several generations. I’m lucky because I can walk out my door and there they are. I also have some large fields as well as forest that the deer call home. It’s a nice relationship. I never get tired of seeing them. My fields don’t have poppies but I let all the grasses grow and it’s very beautiful, especially in the spring/summer/fall. Very nice subtle changes of color. Deer are some of my favorite creatures and getting to know them has been very interesting. 🌿🌝🦌

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@digger360]

10/10 as usual I learn soo much from watching your videos 👍👍👍

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you.

[@rogerhance5883]

Great video as always. Its always a good way to start a Saturday morning, watching your latest video.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Always imagined you were out and about with your camera from the crack of dawn.

[@blutey]

Great footage. Looks like it was worth the journey!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

It was!

[@northdevonwildlifewithandy788]

Lovely film as always Mike.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@CheikoSairin]

You capture amazing footage. A big LIKE from me. Thanks for sharing.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks for visiting

[@deirdreharness2701]

Beautiful video Mike

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@JanicevD]

beautiful - made my day. :)

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kathrynhall9920]

What a wonderful sight.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

thank you.

[@alanfearn1101]

Great combo deer and poppies, thanks Mike

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you.

[@davidamoss6031]

That was beautiful. Thank you

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@markwhitesell4491]

Wonderful video!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you very much!

[@davidosborn3356]

However you found the location, it was an£ is absolutely beautiful. Another great video.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Then it rained and the poppies were gone!

[@davidosborn3356]

@@MikeLaneFRPS OMG. Great timing then on your part!

[@marchumphreyphotography]

what a lovely video mike! I'm also testing the lens, and I have definitely been impressed with it. Need to get out and find some roe deer myself, i've never actually managed to photograph them

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

It is tiring when hand holding for flight.

[@twitcherspictures]

Fantastic Mike

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@neilsphotos]

Beautiful film as always. Always look forward to yours and Roger Hances' work. Best regards from North Northumberland.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@peterd0147]

Magic Mike What a fantastic location!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@stephencooper8565]

Beautiful start to the weekend enjoying another super video. A field of poppies always loos great but to have deer in them results in some stunning images. Thanks for your weekly piece of natural world magic and the lens seems to work very well. I am considering one for myself 👏👏

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jamessaxon3859]

Very nice interaction with the deer and babies. Thanks for sharing. Look forward to your weekly videos.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks for watching!

[@louisswaim7024]

Beautiful!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you!

[@richardfink7666]

It couldn`t be better! Just beautiful.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

thanks.

[@malcolmriley6897]

That was magical. Fitting reward for your early starts.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you..

[@wildcat1065]

Wonderful footage !

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks for visiting

[@duncancookdrummond3273]

Beautiful footage.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks for visiting

[@MartinJSmithPhotographyUK]

Thanks Mike, lovely footage. I think we like a field of popes.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Yes we do

[@johnpark8297]

Beautiful video Mike, really enjoyed this, thanks for posting 👍

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@cryptographerchris4856]

Still awesome even only with mostly head shots.

[@przybylskipawel]

Wonderfull scenery!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@cliftonwhittaker260]

another good on, Mike. We have several white tailed deer that use our back yard frequently. One doe has a single fawn and one has twins. They bed down in our back fence row almost every day.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I am in envy of your backyard

[@Wairoakid]

Great stuff Mike

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you.

[@anthonypaul7546]

Very nice

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks

[@stevevickers2844]

Smashing video Mike Soooo early 😮. Worth it though.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you.

[@garylancelles6666]

Stunning location for watching the roe deer ,down here in Devon the roe rut doesn't start until well into July

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@trevorburton4429]

Thanks Mike. An enchanting video. As others have said, it’s a great start to the weekend. Don’t know how you managed to do a piece to camera at 2.30 am!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@alandixon5144]

Very nice Mike. As you know I have been watching Roe Deer for a number of years and they simply aren't interested in the crop usually, much preferring the "weeds" in amongst it. I guess it's because the crops usually a simple starch without much else in terms of nutrition whereas the "weeds" are undoubtedly far more nutritious... Great video........ 🙂

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks 👍

[@brucegraner5901]

An outstanding combination of subject and environment. I have to admit, there are plenty of times that 150-600mm lens would be useful for my outings.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks for sharing

[@paulharvey2396]

thank you I very much enjoyed your explanation and high quality gift -- I am thinking more and more we need a worldwide green movement to push governments in a stronger protective direction - to halt the 150 year long species decline etc etc

[@stephenbarlow2493]

Lovely. I know you will probably think I'm mad, but try this if there is no one else around. Try talking to the Roe, in a reassuring voice. They are fascinated by the human voice, they can get to know you by your voice, i.e. individually and will realise, eventually you are not a threat to them, recognize your voice, and be reassured by it. I habituated several Roe to my voice, and they would let me get quite close. If they started to run, I'd just have to speak to them, they'd realize it was me, stop running, and started feeding in a relaxed way. It doesn't matter what you say. I just used to say things like okay, it's only me, or hiya. Obviously, they don't understand English. They have got incredible hearing, which I believe is actually their primary sense. They were clearly very aware you were there, because their ears were pointed at you. You know when you have their trust, when they point their ears away from you. They can swivel their ears independently.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Not madness Stephen. Handling captive animals people talk to them calmly too.

[@stephenbarlow2493]

@@MikeLaneFRPS - When out doing some early morning macro photography, 13 years ago, I disturbed a Roe Deer doe. I saw her watching me from cover, where she had run to. I just said a few soothing words, to assure her I was no threat and went about my business. Next thing she reappeared alongside me, and spent 2 1/2 hours with her browsing close by me, allowing me to get over 500 photos with my 150mm macro lens, the longest lens I had with me. So I thought I would try it on some other Roe Deer I knew of, but rarely saw on an urban green area, close to where I lived, and soon I had habituated all of them to me. But when one of the does had 2 kids, they were scared of me at first. Eventually, seeing their mother trusted me, they too got used to me. So much that I could follow them through the undergrowth, without them taking alarm. It wasn't much good for photography, with the overgrown thickets they were in, but it taught me a lot about Roe Deer behaviour, and I think most of what we're taught as photographers, is mistaken. Firstly, hearing, not smell, is their primary sense. If I lightly tapped my cap, 150m away, their ears would flick. But most of all, I learned that Roe Deer recognized individual people, they are curious about us, and once they realize you are not a threat, they will not flee when you are near them. But they will flee from all other people. They can recognize you from your voice. I'd tried all the stalking and camouflage stuff, without much success. Simply because their hearing is so good, it's very hard for them to be completely unaware of your presence. But once they recognize you as an individual, and are sure you are no threat to them, which they learn quite quickly, they will relax when they know it's you. Of course there is a limit how close you can get, but once they trust you, they will allow you within 15-20m, knowing full well you are there, and they are relaxed enough to browse, and even turn their ears away from you.

[@przybylskipawel]

Ideal scenario to utilize your thermal visor.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Nest weeks film is more suitable.

[@alligater7]

Would the IR monocular you reviewed in another video help with findings the deer or are they easy to see through the viewfinder?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I found them by eye or binoculars. Thermal imager still needs line of sight, so they do not glow when behind the thick crop. Next weeks film I use the termal imager on Nightjar.

[@tarjei99]

Why are there red poppies in the field? Farmers tend to weed out weeds.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Its an organic farm so no spraying. When the crop is combined the machine will sort out the wheat from the poppy seeds.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

Used to be able to do the same until the person who's land it was got denied permission to build a house so they surrounded the field by a fence and now no Roe Deer :(

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

We are building and fencing everywhere.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@MikeLaneFRPS Yep especially in my village! We don't even have a single shop or village hall yet all they want to build is more houses!