Then came our most exciting muntjac encounter so far. We were exploring Parsonage Moor Nature Reserve when something suddenly bounded across the landscape ahead of us. My first thought was that it must be an enormous hare. It was moving so quickly that I barely had time to register what I was looking at. Little Leopard, however, was absolutely delighted when we realised it was a muntjac deer, darting and leaping through the vegetation before vanishing from sight. For such a small animal, they move with incredible speed and agility.

Muntjac are often described as Britain's smallest deer, although technically that title belongs to the Chinese water deer. They're much smaller than roe deer, standing only about half a metre tall at the shoulder. Their compact bodies, short legs and slightly hunched appearance give them a very different shape from the more elegant roe deer that we sometimes encounter.

In fact, distinguishing between the two has become a bit of a hobby for us. Whenever we spot a deer, we find ourselves checking carefully before declaring what it is. Is it small and stocky, with short legs? Probably a muntjac. Taller and more graceful with longer legs? More likely a roe deer. It's a useful reminder that wildlife identification isn't always straightforward, and sometimes taking a second look can reveal something unexpected.