Brown Hare DSC_7823
Brown Hare / lepus europaeus. Havergate Island, Suffolk. 04/10/14.
In December, 2013 a tidal surge breached Havergate Island in a number of places, resulting in substantial flooding and damage. Many of the island's Brown Hares perished as a result of this.
When RSPB staff could access the island and assess the situation, only eight hares were counted. However, there was no undue concern about the numbers lost. Whilst acknowledging a much reduced population in the short term, the RSPB‘s view was that numbers would soon bounce back. Hares can make a quick generational turnaround.
I returned to the island for my second visit 10 months after the surge and had to work hard to get any sightings. I managed to see five including this individual who I shared time with in a gorse thicket. Not a comfortable experience but a completely magical one as I watched it doze, groom and feed. This image shows it on full alert after another hare had dashed through the gorse close to it. After holding this pose for a second or two, it lay back down again reassured there was no danger.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
Brown Hare DSC_7823
Brown Hare / lepus europaeus. Havergate Island, Suffolk. 04/10/14.
In December, 2013 a tidal surge breached Havergate Island in a number of places, resulting in substantial flooding and damage. Many of the island's Brown Hares perished as a result of this.
When RSPB staff could access the island and assess the situation, only eight hares were counted. However, there was no undue concern about the numbers lost. Whilst acknowledging a much reduced population in the short term, the RSPB‘s view was that numbers would soon bounce back. Hares can make a quick generational turnaround.
I returned to the island for my second visit 10 months after the surge and had to work hard to get any sightings. I managed to see five including this individual who I shared time with in a gorse thicket. Not a comfortable experience but a completely magical one as I watched it doze, groom and feed. This image shows it on full alert after another hare had dashed through the gorse close to it. After holding this pose for a second or two, it lay back down again reassured there was no danger.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.