Hares near the summit of Cairn of Claise
On our last holiday, one delightful feature was the number of mountain hares we saw everywhere on the high ground. They were brown rather than the 'bluish grey' which gives them their alternative name, but colours are known to vary widely. As winter approaches and the first snows arrive, they will change to pure white. We were enchanted by them. They were so wild and free, and so entirely at home in their beautiful mountain surroundings.
Only on two occasions have we seen so many – a winter's day on Ben Chonzie (Ben-y-Hone) when their camouflage was complete, and one spring on Geal-charn Mor just before they had completed the transition from white to their summer colour. We rather felt that they needed to get on with it.
I think what you are seeing here are the infamous Cairn of Claise Kangaroos. An understandable identification confusion. They were smuggled over here a few years ago by an Aussie Challenger and have bred like wildfire as the top predator.
ReplyDeleteYou were lucky to get away with your lives; they are quite taken with Paramo as it's the smell of Nikwax that turns them into maddened savage killers.
I love to see hares about the place.
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Alan - that explains why we escaped unscathed then. We had ME Goretex jackets on occasionally supplemented by Rab Photons. They have spread to the Cairnwell and Carn Aosda area - presumably because there is an abundance of winter prey in the form of skiers.
ReplyDeleteLe Loup - they were a delight, as is all wildlife on the hill of course.
On 23rd Nov 2003 on A'Chailleach (Monadhliath) on a bright sunny day I counted twenty or so white hares dotted across the hillside on a background of golden bracken and heather. I have a rather blurred photo taken with a much inferior camera in those days.
ReplyDeleteGibson, if you're on the Dunkeld-Crieff road (I think it's the A822), there's a mountain road cuts off it near to Amulree; it heads towards Glen Quaich and leads eventually to Kenmore.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good spot for seeing mountain hares, particularly on the right as you first head out of Amulree. It's a road that looks like it could be tricky in winter conditions though.
Fantastic. A great sight to see.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite sights - especially when they have their winter coats. In cold but not snowy weather they lie so still thinking they're camouflaged! Glen Muick is a good place to see them.
ReplyDeleteSir Hugh - Sounds wonderful. It's difficult to get good photographs of hares I find - for obvious reasons!
ReplyDeleteByeways - Thanks. I love them, and we saw more last week although only in ones and twos this time.
Alan - they are so wild and free. A privilege to be in their company.
Laura - one of my favourites too.