More from early afternoon.

 It wasn’t only Hare that I found on my early afternoon walk, here are a few of the other things that I spotted.

Harlequin Ladybird on gorse.

Chiffchaff.

Willow Tit.

It’s not often I have caught one singing.

My first Blackcap of the year (I have taken some better pictures of a few different ones lately).

Kestrel.

Lapwing, I like the way you can just see its head above the crop.

Collard Dove.

Brown Hare late afternoon

 Later that afternoon I decided to go back to where I had seen the Hares in the hope they were still around, they were. It was still sunny with the (chilly) breeze still coming towards me which helped me get a bit closer to where they were.

When I reached the field, this Hare was at a bit of a distance from me. I kept low down and because the breeze was coming towards me, I was able to get a bit closer to it.

Another hare came bounding down the tracks a tractor had made and stopped at about the same distance away as the first one. It looks as though it has stuck its tongue out at me.

They were soon chasing around the field.

Another joined in.

And they were chasing back and forth across the field.

These two were so intent on the chase they didn’t notice I was there.

And came closer and closer.

Until they got their eye on me and veered off.

One of them started to hunker down and as it was getting late, I decided to leave them to it.

But as I was leaving another one started to clean itself however it looks as though it is waving goodbye as I have been back a few times and have not seen them again.

Brown Hare early afternoon

 I was lucky enough the other day to come across some cracking Brown Hares on one of my walks. It was a bright sunny afternoon with a gentle breeze which, fortunately, was coming towards me.

I was nearly at the end of the first path on my walk when this Hare came out of the field straight in front of me.  It sat down right in front of me and seemed to posed.

It didn’t seem to be in any hurry to move but eventually hopped away.

Just after it hopped away, I saw two Hares chasing around the same field.

A little further on my walk I saw a movement in a hedge so I stopped, out popped a Pheasant. I stood watching for a few seconds and I’m pleased I did because out of the same hedge came this Hare. This one posed for me too.

Then like the other one, hopped off. 

Instead of doing a circular walk as I usually do, I returned the way I came. And again, I’m pleased I did because when I got back to the first path this Hare came from the field to my right.

It came closer.

And closer.

And closer still.

Then sat in front of me. I could not believe my luck.

I then saw this Hare running at full tilt across a field.

Twizell Wood

 My first visit to Twizell Wood this year on the 19th in the hope of finding my first Damselfly of the season, the Large Red. Unfortunately, it may have been a bit early for them up here as there were none about. However, I did get a few firsts with Orange-tip, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White and Large White Butterflies. Most numerous were the Bee-fly I have never seen as many in one place. All in all, a canny morning out.

Orange-tip Butterfly on a Bluebell.

I followed this Orange-tip and as the sun went briefly behind a cloud it landed, closed its wings…

…and waited until the sun came out again.

Speckled Wood Butterfly.

Green-veined White Butterfly.

It might be a bit early but I think this is a Large White Butterfly. If it is, it was the only one I saw. 

Peacock Butterfly.

Comma Butterfly.

Mating Bee-fly.

A couple of Bee-fly.

They were everywhere.

Here is one with an Eristalis sp. Hoverfly.

Syrphus sp. of Hoverfly.

A Wasp gathering wood presumably to make a nest.

Another species of Hoverfly.

A couple of Spiders.

And I could not resist a picture of the Bluebells.