A very bold deer
Today’s entry is an animal one. Early this morning, I noticed the large heron-like bird flying overhead again, and this time it was surrounded by much smaller seagulls, and I thought Aha! Albatross! So, I’ll have to see if any species of albatross come down here. I saw another pheasant on the bus to killarney. Killarney is very cute, and I am in yet another awesome hostel, Neptunes (awesome like a hot dog? why yes.) I didn’t even need to go to the tourist office, because the guy here was so helpful – told me how to get a discount on train tix to Dublin, and the best walk to take in Killarney NP. It is freezing here, i’d like to point out – they’re predicting snow and it is raining off and on. But I went out to the national park anyways. Now, you’d think the park would be a few km from town – but no the main street dead ends right into it. And it is gorgeous! I ended up beeing a bit cold and wet, but there weren’t many people around, and LOTS of birds. I saw a bullfinch, which is a little bird with a peachy/orangy breast, some little brown and white birds that hang out on the undersides of branches (eating insects I think), some wooddoves (I couldn’t get a photo – they were very skittish), a hooded crow (hooded raven? something like that), some swans, ducks, and cormorants out on the lake, and the usual assortment of lbbs (little brown birds). I saw Ross’ castle and cottage, as well (Ross – why didn’t you tell me?)
AND THEN – As I am walking back, an immense deer bursts out of the bushes about 5 yards in front of me!! I had given up on seeing any mammals on this trip aside from sheep. I’d like to point out that I checked the Irish wildlife guidebook in the town bookstore (new E. George, oh and I read the hound of the baskervilles – v. suspenseful!, and I’m reading to the lighthouse and kidnapped. And thinking of swapping my last E. george for Jane eyre. But I digress). Right – the guidebook says “an impressive animal” not tomention IR’s largest land mammal. This deer was BIG! (much bigger than whitetailed or mule deer, maybe a bit smaller than tule elk?) And much closer than was particularly safe, but I didn’t walk up to it. It ran across the path and I sort of gaped at it and only got my photo out in time to get a picture of its but disappearing into the distant trees. This deer was a young buck, with about 1/2 years of antler growth on it, and it was gorgeous.
So, I’m still damp – I’m thinking of coming back to Killarney after Glengarriff to explore more of the park. Ring of Kerry tomorrow. Smoothie, a movie (the queen), and my new book tonight.
Grace Kelly – Mika (hostel radio)
Tags: Travel
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