Irish Hare

While out and about today searching for the female Marsh Harrier at Tool's Lough in the Burren, I came across this Hare who was sitting out in an open field in the rain.  He was not too worried about me approaching him and he sat up and had a good scratch and a preen, shaking off the rain, before trotting off to another field nearby.

Irish Hare

The Irish Hare is one of our oldest mammals with bones found in County Waterford dating back 28,000 years.  I had two Hares today at Dromoland Castle Estate, feeding out in open fields.  Of course this is the time of year that they become mad March Hares when males box in competition for females.