IF you look closely enough there’s something a bit different about one of farmer Neil Raeburn’s flock.

A young fallow deer isn’t only unusually white in colour but he’s also taken a liking to hanging around with sheep.

The buck - which has been dubbed Bababambi by locals - first appeared at Kingside Farm in Peeblesshire just over two months ago. Every morning since, it has joined farmer Raeburn’s flock for breakfast before enjoying a day of grazing in his field.

Neil said: “It was almost pure white when it first arrived but I have noticed it getting slightly darker with each week that passes. The sheep don’t mind and he makes himself at home.” It is believed that the first-year fallow, which was probably born last June, is from a herd on the vast Portmore Estate just a few miles away.

A small herd of the animals roam the forests and hillsides above Eddleston. They were introduced onto the estate in the late 1990s.

Alex Hogg from Portmore, who is chairman of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, said: “I am sure it is one of ours. The variety of fallow deer that we have are very pale. It will think it’s a sheep just now and when it grows up a bit will likely find its way back to the herd.” It was reported in the 1990s how a sika stag joined a herd of cattle on Stobo Estate for morning feeding and daily grazing.

And David Goffin from the British Deer Society believes the Kingside Farm fallow is showing similar behaviour.

He explained: “White fallow deer are not as uncommon as you would think. There are quite a few out there.

“It is more unusual for it to be socialising with sheep although it is not unheard of.

“Deer are social animals and it is likely this one has been left behind by the rest of the herd and is just seeking company - as well as food.

“It was a similar story with the sika stag - he enjoyed the company of the cattle and enjoyed their food.” Another sika stag also joined a herd of cattle for a winter in the Manor Valley almost a decade ago.

Fallow deer are widespread throughout England and Wales and growing numbers are living in small pockets across Scotland.

They were introduced to these shores from Mediterranean countries during the 11th and 12th centuries.