“In all things of nature there is something of the marvellous” - Aristotle
We don’t have any where near the same diversity of mammals in the UK compared to most other areas of the world. This is in part due to hunting most of our predators to extinction many years ago. Urbanisation, agriculture, climate change and hunting (often illegally) have put significant pressure on what is remaining.
However I have really enjoyed spending time over the last few years with the species we do have here, especially hares. They may not have quite the same visual impact as a lion or an elephant, but I have had just as much fun photographing them.
It’s incredibly calming sat in a field watching them chomp on grass, preen and occasionally run up close. There’s also a good chance of some action, when it goes from a calm, relaxed scene to chaos as a they take their frustrations out on each other.
Hare Raising. All was calm early one morning until one of the hares decided to smell the behind of another.... She turned and started to box him whilst those close by ran for cover.
At Eye Level. Another one taken lying on the floor!
April Showers. Hares often shake their paws, in order to shake off dirt before cleaning or in this case to dry them off after walking through the morning dew. I like how the early morning light picks up the water droplets the hare has thrown into the air.
Shush! I was lying in a field, photographing distant hares when the screen went all blurred. It took a while to refocus but when i did I realised there was hare sat close to the end of my lens. It sat there cleaning away for a few minutes before moving on. I particularly liked getting to see those feet!
Fields Of Gold. A hare backlit on a summer's evening.
Chomper. A leveret enjoying his greens.
Out Of Darkness. A leveret was sat in a shaded area with just a few rays hitting his face. I underexposed to create the darkness around him.
On Alert. A hare stops to work out what it is lying nearby!
Big Ears.
Deep Clean. Another of the hare that chose to stop and clean right at the end of my lens. Here it looks like he's admiring his reflection!
Jumping Jack. This was taken at sunrise one May morning. A group of hares were sat together quietly, when one unexpectedly decided it needed some space! It is definitely worth sitting with a group of hares if you find one, as at some point chaos is likely to break out!
Slow Coach. Taken at 1/30th to create the sense of motion. It is challenging slow panning hares, particularly as they rock as they run rather than keeping their heads still.
Every Breath You Take. This hare stopped after being chased by a rival and his breath caught the early morning light.
Pray. A leveret cleaning late one evening, lit by the setting sun.
Baby Face.
The Sprinter. Hares take two forms of action if they feel threatened. They will freeze like a statue and rely on their camouflage or will run at fast speeds up to 45mph, often in a zig zag, in order to escape.
The Blues. A hare one frosty and misty morning.
Eat Your Greens!
Love Is...... A female hare has had enough of her admirer. These events can get quite violent, with fur being thrown!
Peas Please. A hare in a field of peas, using the gaps made by a tractor.
Break The Ice. A pair of otters briefly moved from nearby flooded riverbanks to a large pond, well stocked with carp. As they hunted for food, every now and again the ice would crack and a cute head would pop up!
Smile Like You Mean It. Up to this point I had only had a few glimpses of otters in the wild. The pair at a local lake put on quite a show, not remotely bothered by the person with the camera, and made their way through nearly every fish in the lake (hence the big smile!).
Hanging Around. Whilst waiting for a barn owl to appear late on evening, I spotted this daddy long legs glowing in the beautiful golden light.
Spike. Hedgehogs are massively under threat in the UK caused by a number of factors including loss of habitat and road traffic.
The Inevitable. Two damselflies were too preoccupied to notice the marsh frog sat right next to them....
Foxy Lady. An urban fox at sunrise. The early morning light coming through the trees has created the bokeh in the background.
Up To His Neck In It. A deer's head pops out of the wheat field before quickly disappearing again.
Take a Pose.