Twins!

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for this important announcement:

The Pure Florida deer herd has increased by two (I'll have to plant a bigger garden).

I'm not sure the proud Momma is the doe I photographed last week, (did she look TWIN pregnant to you? ) but somebody produced two gorgeous fawns.

I apologize for the branch bisected, slightly soft photos, but I was trying to get my shots without spooking the babies. They were in the southwest corner of my square ten and very near the fence. The list of bad things that could happen if I spooked them into a panic would include tangling themselves in the nearby field fence (I've untangled a screaming, kicking yearling from it once before and it's not fun for the tangled or the detangler), ... or, they could slip through the fence to a mysterious neighbor to the south who keeps a kennel of deer dogs. (Hunting deer with hounds is an old southern tradition)

I did not want any of those things to happen, but mostly, I didn't want to panic them because, garden griping aside, I love having them around and I want them to see my property as a safe place.

They finally crept out into the sunnier pine patch where best dog Ranger is buried. I stalked when their heads were down browsing and froze when they looked up. They were curious, but kept grazing in between peeks like the one above.

I don't know if their Momma called them at this point or if they just had enough of the strange moving tree that kept following them. They bounced off to a new clump of brush and that's when I broke off the pursuit.

This was such a nice surprise. I had not expected anything exciting on this little backyard walk. It was still early afternoon and hot, not the best time for wildlife photos.

They were in deep shade and pretty far away when I first spotted (heehee) the fawns. They were just a small patch of rich brown through green leaves that triggered my "Hey, that doesn't go there" sensory system.

I'm no deer rancher (or am I?), but these look a little big for our doe of recent pregnant posting. I took her photos just last weekend, so we may be in for even more babies.

Oh darn.

Today's post was supposed to be about draughty waterholes and the animals they attract, but that will have to wait for tomorrow.

Birth announcements can't wait.