Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Mammals - Rabbit Page 4

Image Taken on 02 Apr 2018 at 14:12 Image of day on 13 May 2018

Walking in the quiet of early morning of Easter Sunday this Road-kill Rabbit was lying on the main road still reasonably intact. A bucket and spade transported it to the meadow camera site where it lay mostly untouched for the rest of that day. Then a magpie (top image) and Carrion Crows all pecked off a bit, before the arrival of 'our' young Fox who it seems was strong enough to drag it off to we-know-not-where a couple of hours before dawn.

Ref: 20180513_e62_20180402_1412_042+20180403_0420_072+0437_073_fb5 magpie eating road-kill rabbit before fox takes it overnight (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 21 Aug 2020 at 17:22 Image of day on 02 Oct 2020

Earlier on this day we found a juvenile Rabbit lying dead on a path. Apart from a few bird pecks it didn't show any obvious sign of attack by a predator. We moved it to the meadow camera site in hope of seeing a Fox or Badger take it away, but instead what seems a endless sequence of Magpie visits reduced the bulk of the Rabbit to almost nothing. The Kestrel seems to have decided a bit of carrion would be good, grabbed a bit and arrived at the meadow post with it. But the Magpies were not having this interloper take 'their' food, and quickly chase the Kestrel away.
A little licence taken with the timing - the Magpie chasing away the Kestrel took place too quickly for the camera to catch it.

Ref: 20201002_e62_20200821_1722_120_fb5+d01_20200821_1802_196_fb6 magpies feeding on dead rabbit chase away kestrel female who grabbed a piece 1+3+2 of 4 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 21 Aug 2020 at 18:02 Image of day on 02 Oct 2020

This pic of the landing female kestrel is 300mS after the one in the montage above, and you can see that the content of the left claw is not the usual vole or mouse.

Ref: 20201002_d01_20200821_1802_197_fb6 magpies feeding on dead rabbit chase away kestrel female who grabbed a piece 4 of 4 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 01 Jan 2018 at 14:44 Image of day on 08 Feb 2018

We dragged the carcass back to the centre of the camera frame, and you can see a lot of the Rabbit has gone. The magpies are taking advantage of the lack of any 'competition' to make the most of what is left before the Buzzard returned.

Ref: 20180208_e64_20180101_1444_009_fb2 magpies feeding on rabbit carcass 1 of 9 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 04 May 2013 at 06:12 Image of day on 13 Jun 2013

We have left a Swann 'OutbackCam' trail camera aimed on the potential badger hole in a pond spoil heap and here is a little selection of the weeks sightings.

We think the badger IS exiting the hole - this is the first of a movement triggered set of 3 and we can't see how it could be the first if it hadn't been exiting the hole.
The female muntjac deer is a welcome appearance.
The baby rabbits are endearing but a hint of damage to come.
And then there is the dominant male pheasant and 2 of his 'wives'.

Ref: 20130613_sw2_20130504_0612_079-20130509_0609_410 muntjac deer female + baby rabbits + badger + pheasants on mound (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Jan 2017 at 03:00 Image of day on 09 Mar 2017

Muntjac Deer are small - about the same size as a medium domestic dog. These images at the same scale give you an idea of the size.

Ref: 20170309_e64_20170127_0300_155+0703_156_fb2 muntjac deer male + rabbit for size comparison (montage)(r+mb id@432).jpg

Image Taken on 17 Feb 2026 at 17:49 Image of day on 26 Mar 2026

What could interest a Reeves' Muntjac Deer down a Rabbit hole?

Ref: 20260326_bu2_20260217_1749_048_sc7 muntjac reeves deer peering down rabbit hole in east of round mound(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 16 Sep 2011 at 03:18 Image of day on 01 Nov 2011

We found a dead young rabbit on one of the grass walks and took it to one of the photo sites. The only visitor taking an interest in it was this first Polecat of the season. It didn't drag the rabbit away, but we saw a few fresh bites next morning.

Ref: 20111101_d5c_20110916_0318_324_fb2 polecat inspecting dead rabbit but leaving it (crop)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 10 Jul 2018 at 22:32 Image of day on 01 Sep 2018

Following months of occasional sightings on trail cams, here over one night at the Woodland site we have a Polecat on the hunt, we think moving a kit in her mouth, and then carrying 2 dead rabbits back into her burrow. Here are the event and time stamps:-

TL	10 July 22:32	First sighting
TR	10 July 22:34	Probably carrying a kit to a new burrow (see separate detail image).
ML	11 July 03:58	Different camera with 2 young rabbits 20m away - possibly the prey.
MR	11 July 05:20	First Rabbit being dragged.
BL	11 July 05:27	Second Rabbit 7 minutes later.
BR	11 July 05:39	Final clear sighting (last actual image 2 minutes later)

We have all the original images available on request.

Ref: 20180901_e64_20180710_2232_093-20180711_0539_099_fb2 polecat visits including carrying youngster (q) and rabbit(s) prey (montage 2)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 10 Jul 2018 at 22:34 Image of day on 01 Sep 2018

Detail from the top right image of what we think is a Polecat Kit in the mouth.

Ref: 20180901_e64_20180710_2234_094_fb2 polecat visits including carrying youngster (q) and rabbit(s) prey 2 of 7 (detail crop)(r+mb id@432).jpg

Image Taken on 30 Nov 2015 at 23:24 Image of day on 14 Jan 2016

We slightly suspected seeing this animal in a trail cam test 2 weeks previously. Now at the ground level sight nearest the test site this one passage through the site of what appears to be a Polecat. In the background on either side of the tree you can just see a Rabbit making a speedy exit!

Ref: 20160114_e64_20151130_2324_125_fb2 polecat with fleeing rabbit in background (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Sep 2024 at 07:01 Image of day on 10 Nov 2024

A really grumpy looking Rabbit (undoubtedly an anthropomorphic interpretation) provides a lovely view of their whiskers.

Ref: 20241110_e6a_20240926_0701_053_fb5 rabbit(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 17 May 2008 at 07:04 Image of day on 28 May 2008

Rabbits are a constant presence that we don't often feature, but this one could take a nice portrait of itself because the rooks had moved away the log.

Ref: 20080528_d3b_20080517_0704_067 fb1 rabbit(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 13 Apr 2008 at 00:01 Image of day on 29 Apr 2008

Rabbits look sweet and innocent at this age. Its later that they eat the flower, make warrens under sheds and tear the bark off trees!

Ref: 20080429_d3b_20080413_0001_082 fb1 young rabbit(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Feb 2006 at 07:12 Image of day on 18 Feb 2006

Just so you won't forget our primary visitors, here is a young rabbit practising his 'innocent' look before going off to eat the flowers and damage the tree bark.

Ref: 20060218_d3e_20060208_0712_902 fb1 young rabbit(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 31 Dec 2012 at 22:43 Image of day on 30 Jan 2013

A rabbit as you don't normally see one with the eye fully dilated - at least until just after the flashgun fired. But it stayed about for several more shots.

Ref: 20130130_d5c_20121231_2243_115_fb2 rabbit (eye fully dilated)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 06 Apr 2023 at 12:37 Image of day on 16 May 2023

Sharing the same patch of grass as the Hare, an easily recognisable Rabbit is this 'three-eared' individual. Now fully healed, and not apparently a problem, we can only assume a tear from the barbed wire surround some of the fields.

Ref: 20230516_bu7_20230406_1237_009 rabbit (three ears) near south hedge gap(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 25 Jul 2005

Young rabbit choosing his apple before it all disappears.

Ref: 20050725_d3e_21707 fb1 young rabbit 2005jul22_17-50-42(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 23 May 2005

Rabbits are a nuisance when they stop eating grass and start damaging tree bark, but the little ones are so sweet.

Ref: 20050523_d3e_16597 fb1 young rabbit 2005may19_19-51-54(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Aug 2014 at 23:33 Image of day on 31 Oct 2014

Fieldmice (Wood Mice) apparently understand that rabbits are not a threat to them.

Ref: 20141031_e62_20140815_2333_081_fb5 rabbit and fieldmouse (wood mouse)(r+mb id@576).jpg

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