Snow White Hares

It was a long, tough walk up a Munro today, in the quest to see and photograph mountain hares. We’d been told that Ben Chonzie was the place to see them so we set out hoping we’d get lucky.

After a two and a half hour slog for me, we reached the top of the mountain. Not a hare in sight, so I larked about pretending to be one.

It was cold and windy on the top so we wandered down the lee of the mountain looking for tracks in snow patches. We saw some, but I walked right past our first hare, only to be alerted to it by my fellow spotter’s whistle.

And here it is, my first photo of a mountain hare! I shuffled down the grassy slope to get even closer to it. Although it had seen me it didn’t seem particularly bothered that I was getting closer.

Then of course I got too close for comfort and it sat up.

Then it scampered off …

…and disappeared over a ridge.

I was delighted to have seen and photographed one. I had a huge grin on my face. But we were in for a huge surprise when we contoured around the slope. Loads of hares!! We counted a dozen at one point!

We were able to walk by quite close before they got disturbed by our presence. Here they are with perfect rocky shelters. Ideal for the icy, snowy, winter weather.

I had fun taking shots of them.

The low afternoon sun really helped with the photographs.

This pair on the skyline were enjoying the sun.

This one was munching away on the heather and other tasty morsels found high up on the mountain.

My legs are really feeling it this evening but it was so worth the effort to see these amazing hardy creatures!