The Moult

Looking far more scary being in the middle of one of the two moults the hares have yearly in spring and autumn. His head almost has a little cap on it which will go in time, the colouring being fabulous camouflage which they rely on when lying low to conceal themselves from predators like foxes.

Brown hares are thought to have been brought in from the Netherlands and Denmark in the Iron Age and used to be a common sight but loss of habitat and hare coursing has contributed to their decline. They have 3 litters a year with an average of 3 leverets; the main breeding season between February and October which are born in a 'form' or shallow depression in a field, and live to an average age of 6 in the wild. 

There seem to be quite a few hares around at the moment though I haven't been lucky enough to see any boxing yet this year unfortunately as it's quite a spectacle. I think they have to be one of my favourite animals and just can never resist taking a shot. This buck did hear the camera even though I was in the car (which they don't appear to mind) and lolloped off in the other direction sadly.