Another visitor to the Aerie

I've already mentioned the gray squirrels (aka tree rats), red squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, and the bear. This evening we had a young buck deer walk into the yard. THAT got Chester's attention. He (Chester) was lying on the carpet looking out the screen door at some Black-capped Chickadee that was brazen enough to come to the feeder on the deck railing. The deer stepped out of the woods and looked in the direction of the house and Chester went on point. Who needs a dog?

I could see the beginning of some antlers nestled between the deer's ears as it cautiously walked through the taller weeds on the edge of the lawn. It stood broadside to the house before meandering back into the woods heading down the slope toward the road. It was just starting to shed its winter coat of dull brown and gray for its red summer wear. It also looked like it had a good deal of fattening up to do but now that the grasses are up and the leaves on the trees are out that won't take long.