MICE KISSER... A pair of mice appear to share a kiss while balancing on the stems of some wheat. The Harvest mice shared the tender moment on farmland at a secret location in Dorset where they thrive. Paul Browning said, "I photographed the pair in one corner of the farmer's field that grows corn. At dusk and dawn they will start to come up the stems and play and fetch seeds from the plants. It took about 3 days of photographing them and letting them get used to me sitting in the field, obviously with birds of prey and foxes around they are very quick to scatter if any sign of a disturbance. On the third day they got used to me sitting in my camouflage, which was rather hot work, and they started to climb the stems of flowers and crops." "Not much is known about the mating of field mice because once they have mated the female kicks the male out, so I can’t be positive it’s a male and female and it could be a pair of siblings, but it’s always nice to imagine our human feelings in these moments." "I just love seeing them so happy and playing together, it honestly looked like they were having great fun together, and these are mammals that weigh less than a 10p piece, yet you can see such characteristics and animation in their interactions, and even notice the different characters. Some are very social and some are clearly lone wolves." "Harvest mice nest in a ball shape nest they build about 100cm from the ground, the nest might be only slightly bigger than a tennis ball.. so if you’re walking through long grass or farming fields, just be careful and on the lookout, they are such precious and tiny little mammals." Please byline: Paul Browning/Solent News © Paul Browning/Solent News & Photo Agency UK +44 (0) 2380 458800 *** Local Caption *** 1. When and where were these pictures taken? These were taken in a secret location in Dorset where I know they thrive It’s a private farm and it’s one corner of the farmers field that grows corn At dusk and dawn they will start to come up the stems and play and fetch seeds from the plants . 2. Can you describe how you took these photos? It took about 3 days of photographing them and letting them get used to me sitting in the field , obviously with birds of prey and foxes around they are very fast to scatter in any kind of disturbance, after 2 days they got used to me sitting in my camouflage ( which was boiling hot work lol ) and they started to climb the flowers and farmed fields 3. Were you waiting for a while and did they mind your presence? As above, yes it took 3 days to for them to start climbing high up the stems of the fields, and a few times I scared them away with a cough or movement. It’s probably the most delicate of wildlife photography I’ve had to try 4. Would you agree that it looks like they are sharing a kiss? What were they actually doing? Not much is known about the mating of field mice because once they have mates the female kicks the male out , so I can’t be positive it’s a male and female ( it could be two siblings sharing a moment) - but it’s always nice to imagine our human feelings onto these moments.. 5. What is your favourite thing about the shots? I just love seeing them so happy and playing together, it honestly looked like they were having great fun together, and these are mammals that weigh less than a 10p piece, yet you can see such characteristics and animation in their interactions, and even notice the different chsracters - some are very social and some are clearly lonely wolves ( like me lol )