need to see a hare!

susieboxer · #1 (**permalink**) 12-04-2011, 07:54 PM

Help
I live in Kessingland near lowestoft, I'm an amatur artist and would love to paint a hare but first i ned to photo one.any ideas where i can see one please?
susie

KentYeti · #2 (**permalink**) 12-04-2011, 08:11 PM

I almost shook hands with one today Susie!

I was partly camouflaged on a footbridge over a dyke at Capel Fleet on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, (waiting for an owl that didn't come today ).

The hare was running down the side of the dyke and got within a couple of metres of me. Too close to take a photo of, as I had a 300mm lens on at the time.

Plenty more on the Elmsley RSPB reserve, also on Sheppey.

But I am sure someone will point you in the direction of some a bit closer to you.

Cheers,

Bryan

Kayleigh · #3 (**permalink**) 12-04-2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susieboxer

Help
I live in Kessingland near lowestoft, I'm an amatur artist and would love to paint a hare but first i ned to photo one.any ideas where i can see one please?
susie

If you dont get to photograph one you see then why not look in the WAB Gallery and ask the owner of the one you like if you could use it then post the painting on WAB in the Art section we would all love to see it.

Tursiops2 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-04-2011, 08:50 PM

Hi susieboxer, welcome to WAB.

There are plenty of hares in the countryside round Felixstowe, and I imagine there will be plenty around Lowestoft as well, but they take skill and practice to get close to. Finding hares is best done in winter, with the aid of your local OS map. They favour arable crops, and as these are now rapidly growing, they will soon hide the hares from view.

It might be a good idea to contact Suffolk Wildlife Trust Wildlife Trust & Nature Reserves | Suffolk Wildlife Trust to find out if any of their reserves offer good opportunities to observe hares during the summer.

T2

RobinP · #5 (**permalink**) 12-04-2011, 10:23 PM

I find this is the best time of year to see Hares, only this evening I witnessed a group of 3 males and a female 'boxing' and locally I have seen up to 8 in a crop field. If you are mobile, get out and tour the larger arable fields, you are sure to find some eventually.

Robin

susieboxer · #6 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 04:44 PM

thanks for the kind replies! I'd vreally like to take my own photos and not use others, ive just realised that ive missed the RSPB trip to Havagate island to see hares and birds so im wondering if i go next month i will still be able to seee hares -has anyone been on this trip?

snake · #7 (**permalink**) 13-04-2011, 05:31 PM

Hi Susie,
Hares are much easier to see in the spring because the vegitation is fairly low. They will remain active and continue boxing during the hours of daylight right through the summer months, its just harder to see them because the crops and grass have grown so tall.
Find an area where Hares are known to be and keep an eye on the field margins, farm tracks, fields that are grazed by cows or sheep or areas in crops that have not grown and are barren.
A good time to watch is just after first light and again during the last few hours of the day.
Very often you can see a Hare track across a field where all the Hares use the same route. The track may lead to a gate, a hole in a fence or a crossing point over a ditch. These are good places to watch. If you can find one of these places wear clothing that blends in with the surroundings, do not wear purfume or strong smelling soap, when you see a Hare coming sit very still and quiet and with luck he will hop past just a few feet from you.
Its not difficult to get close to them once you have found an area that they use. You just need lots of patience.

Best of luck and let us know how you get on.