Black Grouse Lek

I'd heard about Black Grouse and the breeding Lek many times and seen snippets on the TV, and of course I could immerse myself in the well documented display, any time just by looking at You Tube, but it's just not the same as seeing it first hand. By chance I was looking for a couple of days away and came across a mention (Twitter) of Black Grouse on the Glen Tanar Estate, along with the availability of hides.

Black grouse in the greyness of early dawn

So a quick phone call and I'd booked a cottage, hide and not forgetting the ferry.  I forgot to book the weather!  Before I knew it my day had come - or should I say night - with a 2.30am start. Ouch that's early! I had to meet the ranger who would escort me to the hide at 3am to be well settled before dawn. Meeting Mike at the Estate Office, in the fine drizzle we set off in the land rover to get as near to the hide as possible without disturbing anything.  A short walk in the pitch black and I arrived at the hide.

Female grouse stirs up the males

Having sat in many a cold dark spot, I was well prepared with a padded fleecy sit mat and small hot water bottle.  It wasn't that cold but being still soon chills the body and there was snow on the tops, so it couldn't be described as the height of summer!  The noises of the night told of a lot of activity - all unseen in the darkness.

Males strut their stuff.

The rain also tapped on the roof, and dripped through the many holes, but I was mesmerised by the peculiar noises, almost like little pressure valves going off which I realised was the grouse.  They were here! Unfortunately the light wasn't. The greyness saw me ramp up the ISO as high as I could and I still couldn't achieve a realistic shutter speed.

Shake a tail feather!

I sat back and watched (well actually as far forward as I could on the edge of my seat).  The dance started as the hen wandered like a little temptress through the males. Lots of tail feather ruffling and strutting before one either submitted and retreated or was seen off with menace.

Oh for light and a faster shutter speed!

The light still did not oblige and the misty dawn remained grey and damp. But I made the most of it enjoying the grouse, curlews, oyster catchers, lapwings, ring ouzel, warblers and pipits.

The view from the hide into the gloom

And then a large hare bounded through the grouse and stopped, nose twitching about 15 meters in front of the hide.  I froze, it's nose twitched seemingly sensing I was there.  With shutter set to quiet mode (still not that quiet), I managed a few quick shots before it darted off.

Hare today gone in a moment.

The light improved a little but the female had disappeared so the grouse had settled down and all was quiet for the next hour.

What big eyes you have!

The grouse still did small walks around each other but there was none of the earlier fervour and they moved further away from the hide.

Posturing with no real passion.

It really looked like they were just socialising and meeting up for a chat and I knew the activity had mostly finished for the day.  In real terms the grouse can lek all year but the main season is April to May and I was near the end of this - the hens having laid and now being sat on eggs.

Three's a crowd

A rumble in the distance told me of the imminent arrival of Mike the ranger to pick me up and the grouse flew on his arrival. Packing up my gear the sun finally put in an appearance - too late for me - but the valley lit up in the freshness that only a dawn can bring (that and the coffee that was waiting in the land rover).

Dawn

On and off the Island (Days 112 - 122)

The last 10 days have been quite different to my normal routine as I managed to slip off the island for a few days - not that I was without my camera.  The aim of going away was to capture an annual event but more of that later. It's been such a hectic time I'm struggling to remember what I did and the photo's provide useful reminders.

Day 112 - A quick snap in my garden of the song thrush, mouth stuffed with bugs (hopefully for chicks in the nest).

Day 113 - A tiny wren has a huge voice but doesn't stay out in the open very long, preferring to dart into the undergrowth at the merest hint of a camera. I think I'll have to get my hide out to capture closer images of this one.

Day 114 - And a full day photography tour saw my little group battling hazy grey weather as we circumnavigated the island.  Stopping in Catacol to capture the Apostles cottages.  Luckily we stayed dry and we did get some lovely shots over the day.

Day 115 - It's raining again and delicate woodland flowers droop under the weight of water and I'm preoccupied with packing.  My bag is full of chargers and technical stuff (along with a hot water bottle!).

Day 116 - I started running again last week, after several months off following an injury.  It's been a bit of a stop-start recovery, spanning over a year now but I haven't given in.  So I'm planning on a bit of cross training and therefore dragged out my bike for an 8km cycle.  I had forgotten how hard the saddle is!

Day 117 - I've arrived at a lovely cottage on the Glen Tanar Estate but passed this derelict barn on the way up the track.  First job on arriving was to walk my dogs, who had been in the car for hours, so we wandered passed this and had to have a nosy in.  The roof beams were amazing, and I'm sure it will be converted in the not too distant future.

Day 118 -  Loch Muick (yes that is snow still on the tops) and a lovely walk all the way round.  Eight miles in 3 hours enjoying the scenery and full 4 seasons weather experience! Lots of deer but very few birds on the water. Sat down for my picnic and gained a couple of ticks!!

Day 119 - Between April and July Balmoral Castle is open to the public - well one room and the gardens.  After an early shower I managed to hitch a lift down the drive (the little truck had just left) and picked up my audio set.  Feeling slightly cluttered with camera, monopod, audio set and bag I set off around the site.  The gardens were a little disappointing but the buildings were stunning and there was plenty to see (especially off the beaten track - working on the principle someone would soon move me on if I wandered where I shouldn't). The Garden Cottage was one of my favourite spots as I could peer through the windows and wander to the water garden. Keen gardeners will be pleased to note that I spotted greenfly in the Queens conservatory - so no-one is immune to this little pest!

Day 120 - Actually it should be night 120, as I started at 2.30am with a short drive to meet the ranger  (Mike) to be escorted out to a hide.  The plan, to shoot Black Grouse during the lek.  The weather was not looking promising!  Camera kit carefully planned, padded fleece sit mat, hot water bottle, hat and gloves packed in preparation for a cold night.  No flask of coffee as I wouldn't want to leave the hide for the duration!  In the darkness the grouse made lots of noise, sounding like steam valves going off.  As light - well a greyness - arrived the birds were plentiful.  Shame the light wasn't!  My closest visitor was the majestic hare that sat in front of the hide for a few minutes before lopping away.  The black grouse will be subject of another blog soon.

Day 121 - The Burn o'Vat a rock formation (pot hole) and small waterfall, accessed through a gap in the rock and well marked from the car park at the Muir of Dinnet a large nature reserve where I saw plenty of greylag geese and golden eye duck during a walk around the loch.

Day 122 - Time to go home, and I took this from the roadside in Dinnet.  There seem to be a lot of castellated and turreted buildings in Royal Deeside and I found it a fascinating place.  I will definitely be back to this area as I don't feel I have even scratched the surface of what it has to offer - and I want some good weather for the Lek next year!