March hares at Moniack Mhor

March, and Moniack Mhor is quiet. Little dots of rain are flecking at the window, while the sky casually threatens snow. The phone is not ringing but that’s fine. I’ve got peace and quiet to get on with some work.

There’s nobody here but me… well, me and the hares.

The hares, I hasten to add, are not in the office! (The sheep wouldn’t allow it – seriously) Anyway, as I drove down the track this morning I was greeted by the creatures.

I have seen glimpses of them before. Usually when leaving for home on one of those gold-lit, rainbow-basking late summer evenings that Moniack does so well, and they’ve snuck away, frightened.

Today they were nonchalant. The first one crossed the road slowly and ignored me while the second one actually galloped towards the car before ducking off into the field next to the track. I stopped and watched it for a wee while. It was all long legs and big, black-tipped ears. Its eyes were tawny globes looking straight back at me. Then it yawned! Yes! It stretched its’ gangly, feral legs and yawned right at me before loping off with a flick of its tail.

The wildlife around here has no respect!

Best wishes from Andrea Muir, Centre Director, Inverness-shire