Frosty Red Grouse
Frosty Red Grouse. Close up portrait of a male red grouse with a frost covered beak, Derbyshire, Peak District National Park. This image was taken as part of an ongoing long term red grouse project. Grouse are often very flighty and nervous, but after spending so much time with the same birds, many of the grouse have become so relaxed that I am able to capture more natural behaviours and a range of unusual images.
Join me for a Red Grouse Photography Workshop to see these iconic upland birds on the stunning moorlands of the Peak District National Park.
Frosty Red Grouse – About Red Grouse:
Red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica) are found on open moorland in the upland areas of the British Isles. Highly competitive birds, the males compete primarily for areas of moorland rich in heather and bilberry bushes, ideal sites in which the female will produce a nest scrape for her eggs.
Nestled amidst the rolling hills and heather-clad moorlands of the Peak District National Park lives an iconic moorland specialist – the Red Grouse. With its fiery plumage and distinctive call echoing across the expansive landscape, this striking bird captivates the hearts of all who venture into its realm. Strutting proudly across the heather-strewn hillsides, these feisty birds thrive in their challenging terrain and ever-changing weather conditions.
Habitat and Ecology
The moorlands of the Peak District provide the perfect habitat for Red Grouse, offering a rich tapestry of heather, grasses, and shrubs upon which they rely for food and shelter. These birds are well adapted to the harsh upland environment, with their cryptic plumage providing camouflage against the rocky outcrops and bracken-covered slopes.
Conservation Challenges
Despite their tenacity, Red Grouse face numerous challenges in the modern world. Habitat degradation caused by overgrazing and drainage issues threatens the delicate balance of the moorland ecosystem upon which they depend.
You can find more about red grouse here.