13/06/2026
🦌❤️
This lovely photo of a muntjac returning from a brief dip in the sea at Gibraltar Point was taken by shorebird warden Mike Watts. Trail cam footage from the southern end of the sanctuary area has revealed just how often both muntjac and roe deer have been venturing out to this far edge of the reserve. The cameras are extremely useful for highlighting predation, disturbance and trampling risks during the nesting season, but also give us some fascinating insights into wildlife behaviour. While deer are strong swimmers, they typically enter the water to escape a threat or reach a food source or new territory, so their actions at Gibraltar Point are something of a mystery.
"It poses a very interesting question as to why the deer are drawn to the sea," says Mike. "Is it simply to cool down during the hot spell we’ve experienced, does the saltwater help alleviate parasites, or does the saltwater and dune vegetation provide minerals they are not getting elsewhere? Whatever the reason it's still quite surreal to witness."
