It is always fun to see deer – especially when you live in the city. I saw these deer this afternoon at the edge of the meadow across from the old Earthlink building on New York Drive.
There were four deer. Two large deer and a couple of younger, smaller deer. .
Then I spotted another animal moving over the hillside above the meadow. . I couldn’t get a great look at it. But, it was definitely a cat. Looked like a bobcat. I saw the cat move along a stretch of chain link fence and then crouch down. About fifty feet and a line of chain link separated the cat from the deer.
I watched the drama play out from the street. I had read where bobcats can take down a deer, but that it was unusual. Was this one of those unusual times? Would the cat go after the deer?
Then I moved in for a closer look. Camera in hand, I stepped over a string of wire and crept into the meadow. With one eye I watched the animals. With my other eye, I tried to navigate the meadow without stepping on anything crunchy.
I made my way well into the meadow. I still had a bead on the deer. The cat still lurked behind the fence. A hawk soared above. Just another step and I would pause for what was going to be a great picture.
Then, quail happened.
I’ve seen quail in the meadow before. They scurry around from bush to bush. Fun to watch. Hard to follow. Impossible (for me) to photograph.
I had taken one step too many. A bevy of quail scattered across the ground in front of me. I watched the birds dart through the brush. Then, I looked up. The deer were walking away. I looked in vain for the cat. It was gone.
The drama was done. Show over.
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