European Rabbit
European Rabbit / oryctolagus cuniculus. Suffolk. 27/06/18.
'BUT ALL WAS NOT WELL ON WATERSHIP DOWN....'
The location was in fact a fallow, sandy field much favoured by rabbits. Their populations have lived there happily for as long as I've been visiting Suffolk, and that's a long, long time!
On a brief visit at the end of June I spent a few hours with the rabbits, photographing them in gorgeous early evening light.
This doe was very confiding. I think she was either pregnant or having a phantom pregnancy judging by the amount of fur she had plucked from her breast to line a nest with.
I made lots of images, all viewed from her opposite side and in these, she had appeared to be in first class condition. However, when she eventually turned, she revealed this sore, nastily infected right eye. I think she must have picked up one of the Piri Piri Burrs that are now invading the field. Over time she must have scratched this irritant and in doing so, removed not only much of the burr, but a lot of fur too. Remains of the burr spikes can still be seen in the bottom corner of her eye.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
European Rabbit
European Rabbit / oryctolagus cuniculus. Suffolk. 27/06/18.
'BUT ALL WAS NOT WELL ON WATERSHIP DOWN....'
The location was in fact a fallow, sandy field much favoured by rabbits. Their populations have lived there happily for as long as I've been visiting Suffolk, and that's a long, long time!
On a brief visit at the end of June I spent a few hours with the rabbits, photographing them in gorgeous early evening light.
This doe was very confiding. I think she was either pregnant or having a phantom pregnancy judging by the amount of fur she had plucked from her breast to line a nest with.
I made lots of images, all viewed from her opposite side and in these, she had appeared to be in first class condition. However, when she eventually turned, she revealed this sore, nastily infected right eye. I think she must have picked up one of the Piri Piri Burrs that are now invading the field. Over time she must have scratched this irritant and in doing so, removed not only much of the burr, but a lot of fur too. Remains of the burr spikes can still be seen in the bottom corner of her eye.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.