Oh Dear, What's That?

It was the 4th of July, and although the weather was not fully cooperating, we were appreciating our freedom on the recently doctored dock.  As my maternal Grandfather would say, the whole "Fam Damily" was there.  While hanging out and enjoying the fresh air, David looked upstream and said, "What's that?"

Wanna see a duck?

"Maybe a duck," I countered, seeing a distant brown object moving atop the water.  I picked up the binoculars that are always at the ready for closer inspection of birds in the trees, and took a peek at the duck on the water.  Smiling, I handed the optics off.  "Here, Dave, check it out."

"That's not a duck," he said.  "It's a deer!"

Clearly not a duck.

"Really?" came the chorus of incredulity.  The binoculars were handed around to each in turn so all could have a look.  We soon found them to be unnecessary, since instead of crossing the channel as expected, the deer swam right past the dock within skilled spitting distance.  

No, the water is not green.
However, water is highly reflective,
and shows the tones of the evergreens on the far side of the channel.

It continued down the center of the channel even though the shallows and then dry land were only a few "deer-paddles" away.

"Look at the spots on the back!  It's a faun."

Not being a leopard, this one is expected to change spots.

"I wonder where Mom is?" asked Kate as the deer passed us and continued swimming straight down the channel.

"Well Kate," I replied knowingly, "I believe that this is the exact day that every doe makes it plain to her fauns that it's time to leave maternal care and go out on their own."

"How do you know that?" asked the skeptic.

"Isn't it obvious?  It's Independence Day!"