Hares

[The W]

Stupid, blooming things!

(read: They're outsmarting me)

 

[Dave Semmens]

I found it best to find a small group of them at a distance then sit and wait. When they get playing they run in all directions and sooner or later they came within 10 yards of me (or some of them did).

_MG_1173 by davepsemmens, on Flickr


I am too old for stalking - although I do resemble Elmer Fudd apparently

Dave.

 

[The W]

Using a car as a mobile hide always seems to be near the top of the suggestion list not something I can easily do at my current location. At the moment it seems to be about four hares in a 40 acre field. They're only starting to appear quite close to sunset, and stay mostly away from the margins.

 

[Dave Semmens]

Do they have a route into the field? May be worth seeing what direction they come in from and waiting in ambush (or another type of bush )

Dave.

 

[Deleted member 34016]

I use my Landrover as a hide- seems to work if you sit still

Brown Hare by lesmoxonphotography, on Flickr


Les

 

[twhite87]

I've tried this but I can't find anywhere where I can see over the stupidly overgrown hedges. Anybody know of anywhere near Cardiff where there are low cut hedges!

 

[sureshot]

View attachment 24417

 

[sureshot]

I have found on my patch they are creatures of habit every couple of hours they return

 

[Lindsay D]

Well, I would just like to see a hare nevermind photograph one!

Where do you get them?

 

[Dave Semmens]

Well, I would just like to see a hare nevermind photograph one!

Where do you get them?

I have seen them in woodland and fields in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. I am sure they are all over the country but easier to spot either early or late in the day.

 

[Lindsay D]

I'm in West Sussex so I'm guessing I would need to head up onto the South Downs Way where it's more remote with miles of open fields. The only time I've seen hares was on the airfield when I used to go flying with my father in Yorkshire when I was small. Like most of our wildlife, I'm guessing they must've declined since then. These days I'm lucky to catch a glimpse of a rabbit - they seem to have suddenly vanished.

 

[Dave Semmens]

The most I have seen in one location is at a small grass airstrip in Lincolnshire.

So it looks like they are avid plane spotters

Dave.

 

[deeley_s]

I

Well, I would just like to see a hare nevermind photograph one!

Where do you get them?

They're there. they are just very hard to see. I've been staring right at a hare, looked away for a moment, looked back and been unable to see it. They are absolute masters of camouflage.

Hares like carrot or sugar beet crops, new shoots of corn, or failing that almost any leafy crop, the younger the better. They like ploughed muddy fields, especially those which slope and have a chalky soil - I think because it most closely matches their camouflage. The main thing is to get your eye in - once you've got the knack, you can see them almost anywhere. One of the easiest ways to spot tem is to find a relatively flat field, and lie down - sooner or later the Hares' ears go up and they are easier to spot against the skyline that the hares are against the ground.

The other trick is to watch the raptors - hares don't burrow, so raptors always get interested. Good luck!

 

[Lindsay D]

Thanks Deeley, that's really helpful - it seems I need to learn how to spot them. Good to know they are there! We have loads of raptors where I live so I'll watch them as well.

 

[big soft moose]

Well, I would just like to see a hare nevermind photograph one!

Where do you get them?

you might find this interesting http://www.hare-preservation-trust.co.uk/index.php

We have lots of them down here - there were two in the feild behind the house earlier. However the county where I saw the most was when i was working in wiltshire , where they seemed to be everywhere.

 

[Lindsay D]

Thanks Pete. Sad to hear they're declining (not that it's surprising).

 

[fracster]

They are not in decline up here, though `i m sure the resident google expert on everything will disagree.

 

[big soft moose]

They are not in decline up here, though `i m sure the resident google expert on everything will disagree.

Au contraire Ade - they don't seem to be declining down here either ... (and I didnt need google for that - seeing four while walking the dog, and another 2 in the feild behind the house at sunset was sufficient for me) .. course if the Hare preservation trust says they are declining nationally (which I believe is what Lindsay is reffering to) then i'm bright enough to realise that localised bouyant populations don't necessarily mean the same rosy picture everywhere.

 

[The W]

I've started to revisit the subject of hares, and this time around I seem to be having a bit more luck. Had a really good encounter today that was abruptly by some anti-socially loud quad bikers using the near-by byway. Unfortunately they do seem to be late risers so I'm always having to push the ISO – I suspect due to the amount of (dog) walkers and what not about. Not sure about their early morning routine - my duvet keeps trumping the alarm...


Field Margin Hare by Paul Whitbread, on Flickr

 

[Lindsay D]

Sorry you encountered those quad bikes Paul, it's frustrating when that happens. But I'm really pleased you got that photo, it's lovely. It's fur looks gorgeous. Unfortunately I haven't had any opportunities to go looking for hares as my workload has got the best of me over the last few months. However I will keep my eyes open for them. Hopefully when you return there will be more of them around and fewer distractions.

 

[totebal]

Crackin' photos folks, as you say not easy to get close to them.