Got out of the Land Rover when something caught my eye. I just caught a 
glimpse of some bird flying off from ground level and then hitting a rabbit 
fence. Next moment, a sparrowhawk flew away from the same area. I jumped 
the fence and found two spots with plucked grey partridge feathers. Looks 
like my arrival saved someone's life!

Up in the high seat, I was amused to watch the rabbits chasing each other 
with the obvious joys of spring. Then I noticed another rabbit about 25 
yards away, heading towards these nearer ones. There was something odd 
about it. The binoculars showed that it was carrying a large bunch of grass 
and moss. It attempted to enter a hole near where I'd seen the others 
playing but it got chased by one of the occupants. The two set off like 
express trains, the gift bearer chased back to exactly where he had come 
from. Now what was all that about? A rejected peace offering? "Flowers" for 
the lady?

Next thing, I see a family group of four roe ambling across the field to 
the young wood. They are taking their time, stopping to graze, and the two 
young male yearlings sparring and chasing each other. It was pretty to 
watch, but they were lucky. They were out of range and in a position 
impossible to stalk. It is these young bucks which will be stripping the 
young trees in a few weeks.

Cock pheasants everywhere. I would like to see more hens but suspect it is 
1:1 this season. Anyone any ideas why having more cocks is considered a bad 
thing? I know some estaes trap them up but presumably this is as much to 
save on feed as anything else.

I've had three successes from high seats this season but nothing at all 
since the weather went cold again. Bloody unpleasant sitting in a high seat 
with the wind going up one trouser leg and down the other. Even the sight 
of a deer would make it worthwhile, but zilch. So I'm not venturing out 
again until the weather gets warmer. I attempted to stalk three roe feeding 
amongst the trees last night but it was an impossible exercise. I have 
explained to the forestry department that they will have to cut the weed 
growth if they want better roe control. They will also have to pay for more 
high seats.

Today, I have been making wooden Larsen traps. It is a long slow job but a 
good band saw helps enormously. Precision in cutting the lengths and joints 
makes assembly easier and I've treated myself to an electric stapler for 
attaching the weld mesh. Now, where am I going to get a live crow from?

In message , Derry 
Argue  writes


>Up in the high seat, I was amused to watch the rabbits chasing each other
>with the obvious joys of spring. Then I noticed another rabbit about 25
>yards away, heading towards these nearer ones. There was something odd
>about it. The binoculars showed that it was carrying a large bunch of grass
>and moss. It attempted to enter a hole near where I'd seen the others
>playing but it got chased by one of the occupants. The two set off like
>express trains, the gift bearer chased back to exactly where he had come
>from. Now what was all that about? A rejected peace offering? "Flowers" for
>the lady?


It was a doe, carrying bedding for her nest.  I'll bet the hole is a 
stop?


-- 
Jonathan

Why can't women put on mascara with their mouth closed?

Jonathan Spencer wrote:

> In message , Derry 
> Argue  writes
> 
>> Up in the high seat, I was amused to watch the rabbits chasing each other
>> with the obvious joys of spring. Then I noticed another rabbit about 25
>> yards away, heading towards these nearer ones. There was something odd
>> about it. The binoculars showed that it was carrying a large bunch of 
>> grass
>> and moss. It attempted to enter a hole near where I'd seen the others
>> playing but it got chased by one of the occupants. The two set off like
>> express trains, the gift bearer chased back to exactly where he had come
>> from. Now what was all that about? A rejected peace offering? 
>> "Flowers" for
>> the lady?
> 
> 
> It was a doe, carrying bedding for her nest.  I'll bet the hole is a stop?
> 
> 

It was a doe, carrying bedding but was met by the dominate doe who told 
her to go away!


John

John <john.p.young*removethislittlebit*@ntlworld.com> wrote in 
news:3cd7joF6lqccbU1@individual.net:


> It was a doe, carrying bedding but was met by the dominate doe who told 
> her to go away!


Sounds logical. But I think "she" was chased by two rabbits. Presumably the 
second was the male chasing with another idea in mind!<g>

I've never before seen a wild rabbit carrying stuff like that.

Derry

Derry Argue wrote:

> John <john.p.young*removethislittlebit*@ntlworld.com> wrote in 
> news:3cd7joF6lqccbU1@individual.net:
> 
> 
>>It was a doe, carrying bedding but was met by the dominate doe who told 
>>her to go away!
> 
> 
> Sounds logical. But I think "she" was chased by two rabbits. Presumably the 
> second was the male chasing with another idea in mind!<g>
> 
> I've never before seen a wild rabbit carrying stuff like that.
> 
> Derry


Rabbits have a strong hierarchy. One of the strange things is that the 
dominant buck is very faithful to his doe. This is not the case with 
lesser buck rabbits, they are always trying to move up the ladder so to 
speak. I guess behind every great man there is a great woman.
Dominant does also have "maids" or other tolerated does, presumably they 
must at some point fight to become the dominant doe (?).
The does are the home makers and whilst it's true that the litters are 
born in "stops" away from the main burry, I have also found litters 
with-in the main burries.
Traditionally this time of year will see the rabbits pairing with does 
going off to make their "make shift" homes, which will in turn become 
part of the warren. Any old hollow will suffice, any nook or cranny, and 
when completed the doe will await a buck to keep her company. My guess 
is that you witnessed the dominant doe and buck defending their home.
The dominant rabbits will occupy the best position, with the best food, 
the driest earth, in comparison the lesser animal will have the wettest 
burry with the longest rout to good food, simply the ones at the top of 
the pile will live at the top of the hill, right next to the crops! :)
As the saying goes, Sh!t rolls down hill, even for rabbits.

John

John <john.p.young*removethislittlebit*@ntlworld.com> wrote in 
news:3ceo7jF6p119jU1@individual.net:


> the ones at the top of 
> the pile will live at the top of the hill,


The man is telepathic. How the heck did he know the holes were at the top 
of the hill??<g>

OK, when would be the best time to go back up my tree? Driving around on 
the quad the other morning (just to see what was about) six roe jumped the 
fence near this high seat. Have they been back? Hell, no!!!

Is it the cold wind? Intermittent rain? Should I forget it until the 
weather is warm and still? The high seat is on the edge of young forestry 
but the roe come from neighbouring (rather neglected) farm land where they 
are never shot (the owner doesn't approve of shooting). In fact, I now have 
three high seats guarding this approach.

I tried stalking three roe amongst the trees later that day (in another 
spot) but it is hopeless. Just too much weed growth and crunchy dead 
leaves.

Derry

On 17 Apr 2005 16:25:02 GMT, Derry Argue
 wrote:


>John <john.p.young*removethislittlebit*@ntlworld.com> wrote in 
>news:3ceo7jF6p119jU1@individual.net:
>
>> the ones at the top of 
>> the pile will live at the top of the hill,
>
>The man is telepathic. How the heck did he know the holes were at the top 
>of the hill??<g>
>

	Probably the fruits of a miss-spent youth ;-)

	Gyppo

John Craggs - Writer - Adult Tutor - Storyteller
               and All-Round Rogue
Need a laugh?  Then subscribe to the free Monday Silly Digest:
mail to: gyppo1@ntlworld.com  With 'MSD SUB' as subject.