“No Flies On Him”

I wonder if the fly that is almost in his mouth was trying to benefit from the stag’s warm breath on this cold late October day when the deer were rutting.

The saying “No Flies On Him” is very old and is meant as a compliment, meaning, wise, quick witted, clever and not easily fooled.

It is said to originate from Australia in the early 19th century. The expression derives from the often - observed phenomenon of flies being attracted to lethargic, stationary and sickly animals - but not to alert, active and healthy ones.

I thought the title to be quite apt for this photograph, which shows a stag in his prime “roaring” at a rival that was only a few metres away.

 

I took this photo with a long lens and it has also been cropped to give a close affect. I was stationed at a safe distance and not affecting the deer’s behaviour in any way. The stag was directing his aggression to his rival nearby. Never approach the deer - especially at rutting time, as they can be dangerous.

 

Thank you for having a look at my photos. Comments or faves are very welcome and much appreciated.

 

Done