First time out in a few weeks!

[Ron Weasley 83]

A few weeks ago, a friend asked if I could help him thin out the rabbits in his garden. Of course, I jumped at the chance! I haven't had opportunity to get over to him for a while, but with a free evening, I thought I'd get out and keep my mind off the football (my beloved Norwich City just needing a win to secure promotion was too much for my nerves!!).

 

The property is on the Sandringham Estate. It's a nice sized garden, probably 30 metres from back door to back fence and about 10 metres wide. Most of the rabbit activity is concentrated down near the house. It should be ideal to sit at one end and pop them off, but as he's a poultry enthusiast, there's so many pens and runs in the garden that there is very rarely a clear shot.

 

When I arrived, I sent him a text to let him know I was there and got out of the car. I spotted a full grown rabbit at the far end and just managed to get a clear shot at it, but fluffed it somehow and the rabbit lived to fight another day.

 

I had little choice but to get up close and personal, and I settled myself down behind his oil tank, about 10 metres from where the rabbits appear across the lawn. At this point, he came out to have a chat. I didn't like to be rude, but I was certain he'd be a hinderance. As it turned out, the bunnies were so used to his presence, they didn't seem to worry at all! After about 5 minutes, the first one appeared. I managed to spook it back into the hedge as I shouldered my Ultra, but I knew it would be back, so kept my crosshairs trained on the spot it appeared from. Sure enough, two minutes later, it re-emerged with another. I was feeling a bit of pressure as he was standing right next to me, but it was a simple enough close range shot and the first bunny was in the bag. The other one popped back into the hedge. After less than 10 minutes, it re-emerged and joined it's comrade in the bag.

 

Another 10 minutes passed and the next one bit the dust, followed by a fourth about 15 minutes later. By now I was losing light, and my lamp is on my R10, so I called it a day with 4.

 

Best bag of bunnies I've had with the Ultra, and I enjoyed every second. And to cap it all, I discovered on getting back into the car that Norwich were winning with 15 minutes to go...they clinched promotion just as I arrived back at home!

 

I did take a photo on my phone but it was far too dark to see.

[stealthy1 3,964]

Shame about the photo Ron, up the canaries