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| Mid winter for My Friend, full snow cover |
The winter of 2021-2022 has been one of my busiest seasons since I started guiding. I may not have spent has much time in the hills with the hares this winter but I have still enjoyed plenty of special days with Lepidus timidus. Anyone who spends long periods of time over many years photographing these creatures will soon get to know individual hares. They are such characters and most have very obvious traits & mannerisms. They are usually found resting regularly in the same form throughout their life which also helps identify individuals. This winter I have got to know one such mountain hare. I named him Mo Chairad (My Friend). At a time when mountain hare numbers have been at their lowest in living memory, it was lovely to see this one individual hare on so many occasions. Mountain hares have dramatically declined in the last 20 years or so. Last Spring was especially noticeable as I saw no leverets in the area where I regularly photograph. Mo Chairad gave me hope that they will survive, prosper and mate. I identified and photographed Mo Charaid on so many days in winter 21/22. I had the pleasure and privilege of his company. Here is my winter in words and images of one very special mountain hare.
We had some wonderful early snow by mid-late November. Perfect timing for the hares going into their transition. I first spotted Mo Charaid in a specific location or 'form' which in this case is just a bare patch of ground with a couple of rocks, acting as a natural barriers to the harsh elements and cover from predators. On the 25th November O think was my first sighting of Mo. He was sitting at a form and just going into the change from Autumn to Winter pelage. Little did I know how many days and hours I would spend photographing this one special, beautiful hare over the coming months.
The fine spell continues. Great snow cover and beautiful light in February. With the days a little longer you can stay out longer with the hares. When the snow becomes deeper the hares will still use their same forms. Often just digging out the snow so they can sit on warmer ground and the snow debris also gives them dome shelter.
Regular clients on my workshops, Michelle & Phil have been out with me in high summer. They were keen to capture the hares in winter and with a Winter backdrop. A big snow storm for a couple of days brought a big dump of snow to Aviemore level. Their booked day out with me was a stunner. Clear skies, cold air, no wind and bright sunshine. Perfect photography conditions.
One of my favourite images of this winter. Was Mo trying to see us from a low angle as we lay down on the snow?
Wonderful to see excellent snow cover. The hares will easily dig and make themselves their own wee snow shelter. They also need to forage deep for their food sources which is mostly just heather in winter. Unfortunately guiding and winter skills work took me away from days out to visit Mo Chairad. It wasn't until late March before our next meeting.
NOVEMBER
Every hare differs as to when they first start to morph into their winter pelage. Their change is triggered by daylight hours, sex, age and individual hormones, not snow lying on the ground or falling from the sky. The average start of this transformation is around mid November. Always an exciting time.
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| Mo Chairaid, probably my first sighting, 25th November |
DECEMBER
Anyone who thinks our climate isn't changing needs to wake up a bit. If you look at the average days of snow lying on our mountains the general trend is for less snow days. How do the hares cope with climate change? Will they adapt? No one knows of course. Remember this, these beautiful creatures have existed on our planet and in Scotland for thousands of years. They are incredibly adapted. In December we had varying days of snow. The first couple of weeks it was vey changeable. Guiding and winter skills work took me away from the hares until mid January. I was keen to see how much snow was around in the area I frequent for photography. These specific hills in the Monadhliath only reach around 850m in altitude. Much lower than the high Cairngorms. The above photo you can see Mo standing on his own wee patch of snow. It was all he had near his form.
What a difference a day makes! Lovely bright sunshine today. This shot was taken just as the sun got high enough to hit the top of the fresh snow. Having hare prints in the fresh snow are great clues to find your subject. It's also an insight into how much the hares travel about in their area. Their foot prints alway bring a smile to me, even if I go away 'empty handed' and havent managed to even see, never mid photograph one. No fear today. Mo was posing nicely in the snow and rocks.
Another huge rise in temperatures and the snow can quickly melt leaving the hillsides bare. The pelage of any hare can be quite confusing when there is no snow or no sunlight, or both. It took me a while to figure out if this hare was indeed Mo Charaid. His character and reluctance to run away were the big clues here.
A day of rain and wind isn't a great combination to photograph any wildlife. When the weather in the mountains is like this we usually get a lot of cloud thrown in to make it even more challenging. Sometimes you just want to pack the camera away and give up. Don't! Persevere! I wandered around a fair bit in rain and wind looking for my friend. He wasn't in his usual form, probably because of the strong winds. I walked a short distance to another favourable form used by other hares, which is well sheltered form the SW winds. There he was, sitting in probably the only patch of snow still lingering about. The rain turned to snow as I sat for a while. Both of us enjoying the fall in temperature. Rain and wind are the worse weather for hares. They definitely want cold, dry and snowy conditions. Just like me!
By mid January we had snow falling again, down to lower levels. It was hard going walking up to the hares location today. This winter I have had a steady rise in clients wanting to come out on one of my Mountain Hare Photography Workshops. There's nothing more I like but to see my groups obtaining some terrific images of the hares. On this particular day we spent longer than usual walking up the track and spent a further hour or so before we got to see my wonderful friend. He was higher up than usual but the look when he lifted his head out of the snow was enough for me to identify him. A cheeky wee tongue always brings a smile to everyone.
By mid January all hares are in full winter pelage. It's a great time to be out on the hills. Will we enjoy another winter season like last? Not even the weather experts can tell you. I spent another day walking in snow showers and sunshine. Another occasion when I obtained my best images, late afternoon with only an hour or so of daylight. This time my friend was quite active.
A very mild period of weather. All snow disappeared on these hills in the Monadhliath. For the hares this isn't good news. They are vulnerable from predators. An Golden Eagle will certainly take a fully grown adult hare quite easily. With a snowless mountain our hares coping strategies are honed. The fastest mammal in the British Isles, running at speeds in excess of 40mph. Rather than being exposed in the open they will usually find camouflage in a rocky area, in a peat hag or when none available a hole burrowed into the ground. Mountain Hares never hide under ground unless there is a definite threat. I love to think they want to know what's going on in their world.
Even when snow was lean or absent, Mo Charaid seemed at ease sitting at his relitively exposed form. On many such bare ground days during the month of January I found him sitting proudly at his usual spot. Remarkable really.
Throughout this lean period of mild and snowless ground I saw him still at his usual places. Evey time I sat, watched and photographed him I was hoping more and more that the snow would come and keep him safe.
There are only a few days in every month when the winds ease, the snow/rain stops falling and the sun shines down on the hills. The hares must enjoy the respite. We often get some nice settled spells in February. Will this settled period in early February continue?
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| Well into winter, what a face! 2nd December |
I guess it wasn't until around early December that I realised that it was the same hare sitting at the exact same form. I noticed how wonderfully 'easy' it was for Mo to be comfortable in my presence. Now when I say 'easy' it still takes lots of time, patience and moving slowly for any hare to be at complete ease with you. I think the biggest giveaway was his form and how he regularly sat in the exact same spot, day after day, right through the winter. Of course he's not always there! But it became obvious to me it was him. I mean, look at that face!
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| 15th December |
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| 26th December |
The changeable weather in the Highlands is always unpredictable. Over Christmas we enjoyed a few snow storms. The snow was back for Mo and his friends. Short daylight hours doesn't give much time on the hills for photography so an early start is always desirable at this time of the season. I couldn't find my friend for a while as there were quite a few snow showers coupled with poor visibility. Eventually, with 1 hour of light left, we both spotted each other.
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| 27th December |
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| 30th December |
Another huge rise in temperatures and the snow can quickly melt leaving the hillsides bare. The pelage of any hare can be quite confusing when there is no snow or no sunlight, or both. It took me a while to figure out if this hare was indeed Mo Charaid. His character and reluctance to run away were the big clues here.
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| 10th January |
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| 12th January, snow storms return! |
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| 13th January - he's pulling tongues again! |
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| 23rd January, taking shelter and cover in rocky ground |
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| 24th January |
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| 31st January |
FEBRUARY
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| 3rd February, rain and no snow here |
The hares are hardy creatures, putting up with some contrasting weather all through their life. Constant rain must be the hardest conditions they endure. They manage of course. Their pelage is waterproof, unlike humans with goretex who sit around for hours on end getting wet, eventually!
At last the snow returns again! Thank goodness. What a difference. Winter is the most popular season for my Mountain Hare Photography workshops. Who can't love the snow covered hills with a gorgeous white Mountain Hare? The photo above I waited for sometime to capture. I spotted Mo sitting with his back to the wind driven snow showers on strong winds. One of my favourite images I love to capture is of a snow covered hare. The shower passed through, the clouds broke and sunshine. Will he shake himself off?
Yes! It was difficult to know if this was Mo Charaid at first with snow covering his entire body. His dark markings above his eyes gave it away. He obliged with a great moment of snow shaking. You star!
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| 4th February, snow arrives! |
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| 4th February, seconds later! |
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| 8th February |
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| 11th February |
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| Mid February |
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| Posing nicely for us |
Mo Charaid's favourite form was well and truly drifted over with deep snow. But he was there, dug into a hollow. We spent nearly 2 hours with him. A good yawn always brings a smile to everyone who phototheraphs the hares.
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| The world from his eyes |
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| Drifted, deep snow cover, mid February |
MARCH
Late March and snow loss again with another temperature rise. We had some fine , sunny days. Mo looking wonderful. Often I would see him yawning and stretching after long periods of lazing in the sun.
APRIL
April is another wonderful month. Whilst some folk down south think it's Spring up here it is still very much winter, just ask the hares. Or rather just look st the hares. They are still in their white coats. Snow can come anytime. Days are long and (sometimes) the weather is kinder. I love this shot of Mo yawning. Or as I like to think, laughing.
After he rid himself of the snow he began the quite common ritual of grooming, making sure all the snow was clear off including all those nooks and crannies!
And minutes later the sun comes out. They seem to anticipate a dry interlude. Sometimes I've sat for over an hour with a snow covered hare, despite the snow ceasing to fall. A bit of snow on top of them doesn't seem to bother them at all.
Another beautiful day followed on the 7th April. It was the longest I've ever say with one hare for one length of time, over 5 hrs. We were both enjoying the warm sun. Mo Charaid even more than me. He was stretched out and lounging about so much, almost like sunbathing.
Late April and Mo is transforming once again into Spring. His coat now half and half. When does HIS winter end? Is it when there's more brown hair than white or a completely brown pelage? It's all to do with daylight hours and age and sex once again. Mother nature is a wonderful thing. He seemed very active over the last couple of weeks in April. A fresh supply of greenery for him to keep him going and well nourished.
I guess you could say end of April is when I call in Spring and when most of the hares around Mo Charaidare darker than him. We still can get snow on our mountains even in May of course. For me and my friend I would say end of April is winter end. I'll let you decide.
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| 20th March |
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| 27th March |
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| 2nd April |
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| 2nd April |
Early April and we get a few good snow storms. Was this my last chance to get Mo Charaid covered in snow? I planned my day around the snow showers in the morning and some sun later in the day. I spotted him in the corner of my eye. He was buried in a big drift. I waited for the shake off.
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| 6th April |
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| 6th April |
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| 6th April |
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| 7th April a stretch in the sun |
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| 7th April. How relaxed is he? |
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| 27th April |
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| 27th April |
I guess you could say end of April is when I call in Spring and when most of the hares around Mo Charaidare darker than him. We still can get snow on our mountains even in May of course. For me and my friend I would say end of April is winter end. I'll let you decide.
MAY
Final image of Mo at the beginning of May. Looking wonderful. Thank you for the days and hours of sitting with this wee fella through rain, snow, wind and sun. The photos are a superb reminder. But for me it's the quality time spent just observing him at close quarters. What a privelage.
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| 2nd May |
