….or rather last
Sunday, when we looked out of the bathroom window to see a hare lolloping
gently across the farmyard towards the gate to the orchard field. Grabbing his
super new camera, DH was able to record the way the hare settled down in a
patch of rough grass near the gate to nibble a leisurely snack, followed by a
quiet grooming session, before indulging in a long and well-earned nap. We kept
checking back over a period of at least two hours to find it still there,
obviously secure in its camouflage, even in such an exposed situation.
The photographs
were taken at an awkward angle with a zoom lens from an upstairs window, but
give, I think, some insight into the way hares manage to survive without a
bolt-hole in which to take refuge. We were mesmerised.
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| Mmm, that's good! |
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| Ah, that's better! |
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| I'm not asleep, I'm just resting my eyes. |
Hares such as you have in England aren't to be found in these parts. I was very interested, when in the UK last fall, in picking them out as they lopped across fields.
ReplyDeleteYour hare knows a safe place when he finds it.
We get hares rather than rabbits here, though there are plenty of rabbits down in the valley. This one was quite small - perhaps one of last year's litter? His camouflage was superb.
DeleteWhat a treat Perpetua to have a hare around to observe for such a long time.
ReplyDeleteUnlike rabbits, hares actually have their young in a depression in the ground not underground in burrow, so maybe, just maybe some young could be born there.
I know you like your videos Perpetua perhaps you might enjoy this one of boxing hares.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_IwHrRLoMc
It was super, Rosemary, and each time we could hardly tell it was still there as it was so motionless and well camouflaged. Sadly this is a patch of grass over concrete. so no possibility of a depression suitable for babies. Now to look at your link....
DeleteOh how gorgeous - lucky you to have such a super view of it! I love hares, and St Melangell would be delighted, too, as would Shelagh (Derrik's wife - she's an absolute fanatic about hares!) Hope it stays araound for you to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIt's DH's brilliant zoom function which enabled us to get such good shots. By eye we had to look very carefully indeed to pick it out when it wasn't moving - it was a very grey day and the light wasn't good. Hopefully we'll see it or a relative around again before long.
DeleteLove the pictures
ReplyDeleteDH is having a lot of fun with his camera. The top photo is a still from a video (hence the widescreen aspect)and the others were taken as stills.
DeleteLovley! We had one visit last summer and I got some photos from my study. Great invention the zoom lens :-)
ReplyDeleteI remember your super post on it. :-) The zoom on DH's new camera is fantastic - so much detail at such a distance. I want to stroke it....
DeleteTerrific pictures Perpetua. This is the best time of year to see them, whether boxing or just being.
ReplyDeleteThey are so appealing aren't they? I think it's the long ears.
I'll pass on your compliment to DH, Ray. We see hares quite regularly, but always singly, so we've never been lucky enough to see them box. You're right, they are terrifically appealing with their long ears and gorgeous fur and the way they freeze so that you can study them. :-)
DeleteSuper photographs despite, as you say, the difficult position from which to take them.
ReplyDeleteI seem the remember that you either have hares or rabbits, but not both, and while in France we were lucky enough to have hares.
I'm glad it had a quiet place to have a snack and take a nap.
Thanks, Helen. DH was almost hanging out of the window to get a good view, as the hare was close to the corner of the house.
DeleteI didn't know it was a case of either hares or rabbits, but it makes sense. It's a long time since we saw a rabbit up here, but hares are quite common and I'm glad about that, as I much prefer them. It was amazing to see it settle in for so long, quite unconcerned by the sound of an opening window or our whispers.
Hari OM'
ReplyDeleteWow congrats to MR Perpetua! this was a delight to see in the middle of the night (am having one of 'those'). Happy sunday. YAMxxx
Glad to have provided you with entertainment in your wakefulness, Yamani. I do hope the memory can lull you comfortably back to sleep before long.
DeleteLovely pictures...
ReplyDeletesir must have a good zoom!!
As I type this I am sitting next to "Boxing Hares" by Harriet Mead
[currently the President of the Federation of Wildlife Artists]...
it is a sculpture in "reclaimed metal"...
affectionally known as the "scabby rabbits" after one of Pauline's colleagues called it thus on seeing it for the first time.
Upstairs is a screenprint of some hares by moonlight...
we see hares here regularly...
but never this close [zoom taken into account]....
I hope it keeps returning for you...
He does, Tim. It's a Panasonic HD video camera - tiny, light and very good and his current pride and joy. It's so much better than my small and aging Sony still camera that I usually get him to photograph anything at all demanding.
DeleteYour hares in art sound wonderful. I've always had a lot of time for hares and we're lucky to have them here. Normally they're at a distance in the fields, but occasionally they come very close to the house and last year our daughter took some photos of one right outside the conservatory. I don't think it was this one - too big.
Great photos, and a brilliant camera and operator I would say. Hares are very appealing, and we occasionally see one around here, although they are an introduced species not native to Australia. I hope your hare stays for a time and you get to observe its life a little more. Happy Sunday.
ReplyDeleteHe has a much steadier hand and clearer eye than I do and more patience too, so his photos are usually much better than mine.:-) I know what havoc was caused in Australia by the introduction of rabbits, but hope that the hare hasn't proved to be such a pest. I love seeing them and watching the speed and agility with which they run. Lovely creatures.
DeleteAs everyone says, these photos are brilliant..well done P's DH. They are magical creatures. I have 3 ceramic hares on my kitchen window sill. Mark has bought them for me over the last 6 months, and I love them. It will be interesting to see if there are young ones around after Rosemary's information about their nestingas opposed to burrowing habits. Jx
ReplyDeleteHe's starting to blush at all the compliments, Janice. :-) I think one of the many magical things about hares is their life-saving ability to freeze and stay motionless for long periods. I've always known they live entirely in the open, but had never appreciated how they manage it so successfully until we watched our visitor last week and had difficulty picking him out even though we knew exactly where he was.
DeleteWikipedia has a very informative article on hares:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_hare
I'm desperately avoiding the temptation to make allusions to Alice in Wonderland and falling down rabbit holes.... You're lucky to have so much wildlife outside your window-thanks for sharing :-) I can't help wondering where he hid whist it was snowing. Smelly dog chased a hare on our walk yesterday, but it left her miles behind- she's the world's worst hunter.
ReplyDeleteFeel free, MM, feel free. :-) Given my propensity at one time for tripping over things and damaging myself, it's probably as well it's a hare and there are no rabbit holes to watch out for.
DeleteI too wonder how our visitor coped in the kind of weather we had this winter, but he obviously did as he looked very healthy and well-fed. Poor Smelly Dog - she hadn't a chance of catching a hare, as they escape their predators by outrunning them at up to 70kph!
Your DH has done well, Perpetua, and must be pleased as punch with all the compliments I see coming his way. He may need to rest his eyes for a bit, like your hare. I actually giggled a bit as Tom always teases me when I manage to slip down on the couch and say "I'm just resting my eyes", which usually means a bit of a nap.
ReplyDeleteAll this about hares is making me want to reread Watership Down.
I can see his head swelling, Penny. :-) "Just resting my eyes" is something we more mature people become adept at, I think, even if it doesn't actually turn into a full nap.
DeleteI've kept looking oyt for another glimpse of our visitor this week, but he's obviously busy elsewhere.
Nice photos! Wonderful what can be done with a telephoto lens.
ReplyDeleteAs long as you have a very steady hand. :-) Mine tends to wobble, so I leave the close work to DH.
DeleteAh, nature can be sweet too, not just cruel.
ReplyDeleteLong life to your happy bunny.
Yes, he was well camouflaged from all potential predators and seemed very relaxed while he was there. Apparently hares can live for up to 12 years, so I hope he's one of the lucky ones.
DeleteMay I add my congratulations to DH on his wonderful photos. One of the few things we miss from our Oxfordshire days is the wildlife, including hares, that we used to observe through the patio doors of the Rectory.
ReplyDeleteHe is still thrilled with the quality of the images from his new camera, Ricky, both still and video. Yes, I'm afraid you won't see much wildlife, other than birds, from the balconies of the chaplaincy flat, but with so much lovely countryside within easy reach, hopefully you can still get a wildlife fix from time to time.
DeleteHow much fun that would be to watch a bunny go through his day! He was obviously very comfortable and secure. I think the photos were wonderful and from the position looking down it was so easy to see how well naturally camouflaged the little guy was. Such a sweet little creature! Please tell DH he has a very nice camera! :-) Debra
ReplyDeleteI will indeed, Debra. We were particularly pleased with the quality of the photos, given the poor light levels that day. As you say, a hare's camouflage is extraordinarily good and he was really difficult to pick out unless he moved. It was such good luck that we happened to spot him in the first place and record his visit for posterity.
DeleteLovely photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda, and welcome to my blog.
Delete