Tuesday 12 June 2012

Hare today

Well not quite. Early last week would be more exact. Niall had gone for a ramble and I was doing some work in my study when I paused for a coffee break. Toddling into the kitchen I found Katinka looking hopefull but she'd had breakfast and pleadings that she was sooooo hungry fell on deaf ears. Disappointed, she preceeded me out the door.
sitting pretty
Coffee made, I went out onto the terrace and sat enjoying the quiet; there was nothing to be heard except birdsong.

I became aware of movement out of the corner of my eye and in the longer grass spotted something Katinka colored and initially thought it was her -- but it wasn't. It was a large hare.
humm where to next?
I sat very still and it came closer, happily foraging on the grass. Katinka appeared and mooched along the terrace wall. At this point I thought the hare would slope off or that Katinka would bounce up to the hare. Neither happened. Katinka went off one way and the hare carried on munching; they weren't the slightest bit interested in each other. Naturally the camera was not to hand but was sat on a shelf in my study.
off to the next patch
Coffee finished I got up and assumed that my movements would send the hare scampering off. However, a few minutes later when I was back in my study the hare hopped into view again and I was able to take a few photos through the window.

20 comments:

Susan said...

A very nice visit. Lucky you :-)

ladybird said...

I guess Katinka knew that the hare would outrun her anyway. So she just thought that it was not worth the effort; especially on a empty stomach ;) Martine

Jane and Lance Hattatt said...

Hello Niall and Antoinette:
Is it too awful to say here that we have eaten some very memorable Hare dishes in our time?!!!

If it is [too awful, that is], well, we are very impressed with your wonderful photographs of the fleeting Hare!

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Susan - the times when the camera is nowhere to hand and there's no second chance are too numerous to mention!!
It was nice to be lucky :-)

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Martine - exactly. :-) Just wish I'd had the camera when they were close enough to capture together!

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Jane & Lance - not at all :-) Hare is a super dish.
Cute as they are, we always think 'mint sauce' when we see lambs ;-)

Perpetua said...

Super photos! We had a similar visit a week ago while our daughter was here. Right outside the conservatory, feasting on the new grass, was a hare and DD got some great photos. Must get her to send them to me. :-)

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Perpetua - just wish he/she'd brought lots of friends then we'd have to mow less :-)
You should -- I'm sure there's a post in there ;-)

Diane said...

I have seen several rabbits on our lawn, but I don't think I have seen hares. We have enough that I have had to fence our veg garden!! Diane

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Diane - Bunnies are rare. Never seen one in any of the fields round about our house; just a hare now and then like last week.

the fly in the web said...

I have the impression that if you have rabbits you don't have hares and vice versa - but why I don't know.

When we lived in the country in the U.K. the local rough shooters would not eat the hares they shot - local superstition about witches turning themselves into hares - so we ate a lot of hare and very good it was too.

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Fly - interesting. Certainly where we used to live there were plenty of bunnies and we never saw a hare.
Think it is a much underestimated meat; we both like it a lot.

GaynorB said...

We got a fleeting glimpse of a hare on the road to LG-P, but nothing a clear as your pic. How lovely to see them in your back garden.

You need to be quick though as its a case of 'hare today, gone tomorrow'! Groan....

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Gaynor - LOL! I resisted it in the title :-)

The hare was pretty relaxed, far less jumpy than I thought it would be [no pun intended ;-)]

Jean said...

There were lots of hares in the fields behind the château when we were walking Lulu earlier in the year. She tried chasing them but it was no contest !!

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Jean - Poor Lulu, I suspect she didn't like losing :-)

Gloria Baker said...

love these rabbit pictures!

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Gloria - welcome! and thank you :-) This hare wasn't in too much of a hurry so I was able to photograph it.

The Broad said...

Really great pictures! We have bunnies at our French house -- with cotton tails!

Niall & Antoinette said...

@The Broad - No bunnies here but the hare was around again at b'fast time this morning.