A Walk On The Wild(life) Side

 I'm amazed that this blog post title hasn't occurred to me before!! A shocking omission from the canon of available songs, albums, artists and what not. However, we got there in the end.

I walked along the south side of the Mere, through to Wassand Balk, to Goxhill and back along the Trans Pennine Trail, a distance of about 8 miles. I'll add it to the list of walks when I have time.

I'll omit the photos I took along the south side as they are old hat and pick up at Wassand Balk.

One of three Brown Hares at Wassand Balk

The same Hare as above

Just one of many Rabbits seen along the way

 200 or so yards further on I thought I was going to have a repeat of the time a few days ago that a Brown Hare came running along Southorpe Road towards me. It wasn't to be though, as a dog walker shouted to/at his dog behind me and the hare.....hared off 😂😂

Getting closer and closer

No, hang on, there's something I'm not sure of...

 ...and away it went. I know that folk have to walk their dogs somewhere but how often it disturbs my enjoyment of wildlife is a bit annoying. No resolution to this, just saying 😉

Then to the highlight of the morning. In a field, along the grassy edge, a Roe Deer doe and a fawn.

Roe Deer fawn suckling

I stayed out of sight as much as possible to enjoy the sight of this pair. Completely unconcerned they just did what comes naturally and eventually they moved away, along the field edge.

A Roe Deer buck appeared from across the field and something happened between them because they ran off through the hedge and left the fawn.

Doe and buck run off and leave the fawn

No idea what happened and I trust that all was well in the end. 

Further along three hares were cavorting - it's not March so again I have no idea what may have been going on 🤔

A fourth hare ran along in the background

Nearing the TPT a Kestrel put in a welcome appearance. There were definitely fewer birds along the road side than I saw and heard last year at this same time. Whitethroats, Chaffinches and Yellowhammers all down in numbers.

Kestrel in its usual pose