If you saw tonight's title and completed the saying with ‘…a March hare’, then you are in for a treat in tonight’s blog! But first, the summary from Old Moor…
As you can see from the sightings above, there was a great range of species at Old Moor today. Bitterns could be heard in the reedbeds along with Cetti’s warbler and, if you looked hard enough, the two great crested grebe were still staking out the area as a potential nesting site.
A pair of eye-catching cormorant on Wath Ings today
Brambling could still be found in the Tree Sparrow Farm with some lucky visitors seeing seven this morning. On the Mere there were two oystercatcher. Wath Ings was where to go to find goldeneye and a black-tailed godwit could be seen on the Field Pool.
A brambling in the trees by the Tree Sparrow Farm this afternoon
But my visit to the Dearne Valley today began with a trip to Adwick Washland. As well as grey partridge, buzzard, redshank and ringed plover, at the moment Adwick is the perfect place to see brown hare.
These fantastic animals are larger than rabbits, with longer, black-tipped ears and longer legs that they use to run at speeds up to 45mph, especially when evading predators.
Hares have been around in Britain since the Roman times and are creatures whose behaviours have long fascinated watchers. No more so than in early spring when the breeding season encourages madcap chases and fighting - or ‘boxing’. The latter often involves two females standing on their hind legs and striking at each other with their forepaws. Watch closely and you'll see the fur fly!
So, to finish tonight’s blog and to welcome in the new month, here’s a short video from Ian Morris of precisely that. Thanks Ian.
Until next time.