Ruffed Grouse 1 of 2
I spent perhaps 6-8 minutes with this displaying male who, like the one seen in the spring, was totally into himself and unskittish, and I kept my distance with a long lens. When there are no females around, these males almost make you think that having a photographer watching their puffery is better than nothing.
As I photographed him, I thought I saw out of the corner of my eye - and sensed - that there was some movement in the tree line 4 feet from my side. I took a number of short quick glances periodically but saw nothing and wondered whether I was imagining things because of the windiness.
However, after stopping shooting, I took a hard look to see whether there were some female grouse further back in the tree line. There were not, but something else was looking me in the eye further back. See 2 of 2 posted to the right.
Ruffed Grouse 1 of 2
I spent perhaps 6-8 minutes with this displaying male who, like the one seen in the spring, was totally into himself and unskittish, and I kept my distance with a long lens. When there are no females around, these males almost make you think that having a photographer watching their puffery is better than nothing.
As I photographed him, I thought I saw out of the corner of my eye - and sensed - that there was some movement in the tree line 4 feet from my side. I took a number of short quick glances periodically but saw nothing and wondered whether I was imagining things because of the windiness.
However, after stopping shooting, I took a hard look to see whether there were some female grouse further back in the tree line. There were not, but something else was looking me in the eye further back. See 2 of 2 posted to the right.