Season of life in the Suffolk landscape Archive

life in the Suffolk winter landscape

Short eared owl in flight over sunny meadow. November Suffolk Asio flammeus

Short eared owl winter Suffolk farm

Short eared owls fly south in winter from Scotland and Northern Europe, some of them overwinter in East Anglia. These photos were taken in November at Halls farm, Norton, Suffolk where to Short eared owls stayed for more than a week hunting in the old orchard and meadows round the farm.

 

Brown hare jumping up close. Dawn September Suffolk. Lepus europaeus

Autumn hares living on a high Suffolk farm

Brown hare side look at sunset. July Suffolk. Lepus europaeus

Harvest hares dawn and dusk

Brown hare on cut hay in dawn sun. June Suffolk. Lepus europaeus

Suffolk hares June solstice

Brown hare Leveret walking. Midsummer evening Suffolk. Lepus europaeus

Mid Summer Leverets Suffolk evening

Leverets at Halls farm taken Mid summer evening

Brown hare pair flying punch at sunset. May Suffolk. Lepus europaeus

Spring hare action at Halls Farm Norton

Brown hare side doge at dawn. April Suffolk. Lepus europaeus

Brown hares in a Suffolk spring

Barn owl looking sun at dawn. February Suffolk. Tyto alba

Barn owls living in a Suffolk winter

Barn owls often have hunt during day time in the winter to make sure they get enough food. These barn owls were photographed at Halls farm Norton in the small rough meadows behind the farm buildings. I have seen three owls hunting on these meadows at many times just after dawn and late afternoon on dry winter days.

Brown hare running past on melting snow. January Suffolk. Lepus europaeus

Brown hares in the winter Suffolk landscape

 

Brown hares are more active early morning, evening and over night. Winter’s short day length makes watching and photographing them more challenging. There has been recent concern about disease killing significant numbers of hares and I found several dead hares during the autumn of 2018.

However, I have been counting hares for the Mammal society during very early morning walks with my dog since November. On the farm near my house I regularly see 30 to 40 hares, this has increased to over 50 during the recent clear cold weather in January. Perhaps on farms managed sympathetically the effect of disease may not be significant.

During the cold spell late January 2019 I have been photographing hares from a mobile hide a short walk from my house. Some of the results are in the gallery below.