BLACK GROUSE IN SWALEDALE, NORTH YORKSHIRE

Black Grouse in Swaledale. Scientific name: Tetrao tetrix. Mal

BLACK GROUSE IN SPRINGTIME - (a chance encounter :)

Early morning on March 26th, I travelled to my usual Black Grouse location in Swaledale, hoping to be there for 6 am. Unfortunately, I arrived later than I intended and the Black Grouse were far away up the moor foraging. I turned my car round, drove past Tan Hill and headed back towards Reeth a tad disappointed. It was then that I saw him. A single male sat at the side of the road, just looking at me. Black Grouse are far more skittish than Red Grouse, so I knew when I switched my car engine off, he would no doubt fly off.

For some reason, he didn't. He just sat there watching and chuntering away. I think he was looking for someone to fight!

I set my bean bag up on the car window, and placed my lens on top. My luck was in, he was still there, muttering away.

The light was awful, bright, glarey sunshine, hence the shadows in the image. But at least he was on the right side of my car.

My lens, a 500mm F4 still had the 1.4 extender on giving a focal distance of 700mm. It was overkill really as I would have liked a bit more habitat in the image. But 700mm meant the bird was not disturbed and he sat there for quite a while in the bright sunshine, totally relaxed and calling out. He was the most stunning bird !

AN EARLY MORNING START PAYS OFF !

Black Grouse, Scientific name, Lyrurux tetrix. Close up of a Bl

It's the middle of May and I'm camping at a lovely little campsite in Keld, just a few minutes drive from the moorland. I set off just before 6 am hoping to catch the Black Grouse who are often seen from the roadside.I park up next to a shepherd's hut, a little pull in parking area where I frequently stop for a cup of tea and a sandwich. Suddenly, two Black Grouse cockbirds appear. They chase each other around my car. Looking for a fight. I wind my window down and set up my camera. They totally ignore me and continue chasing each other.

I take photos of the pair of them , but one isn't in focus. I can't get them on the same focal plane, so it's just going to be one bird who is tack sharp. They really are quite aggressive to each other and I put my camera down just to observe the behaviour of these stunning male birds. I had seen a hen further up the Dale but she wasn't in sight right now, or at least I couldn't see her.

Sitting quietly in the car, not moving and mostly hidden by my camera and lens, the Black Grouse just carried on with their natural behaviour, totally unaware I was there.

With heads lowered, they charged at each other, until one bird decided he'd had enough and left. The victor kept on calling out, perhaps inviting others for a fight ! It was a sight to see

Black Grouse, Scientific name, Lyrurux tetrix. Close up of a ma

Black Grouse, Scientific name: Tetrao tetrix. black Grouse male

ABOUT BLACK GROUSE......

Sadly, Black Grouse are a "Red Listed" species in the UK and are of high conservation concern. However, with targeted efforts, such as the Black Grouse Range Expansion Project, where 10 males and 10 females were moved from the North Pennines to the North Yorkshire Moors, their numbers will, hopefully, increase.

Black Grouse, Scientific name, Lyrurux tetrix. Male black grous

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