The best of Dorset in words and pictures

Colin Varndell’s Wildlife Year – sika stag

The sika rut during October is a spectacular affair and can be witnessed at Arne RSPB nature reserve, where the animals are used to seeing humans. At its height, mature stags are constantly rounding up their females, in between bouts of battling other males for dominance.

SIKA DEER Cervus nippon