Photographing Red Grouse.

[Joel.W]

Thanks for the tips guys! I have been told to use the car as a hide before, and I had great success with this in Mull, but I dont know of any quiet roads in likely places where I wouldnt get in the way for other road users. Does anyone know of any roads or areas to try on the Macclesfield side where I could drive slowly and stop when I need to? Failing that I think I have fairly good fieldcraft and can approach animals quietly and with patience so as not to disturb them so I may have a go on foot.

I love that photo by the way, the lighting is so dramatic, and just what you want with a bird of the uplands! It really shows off the environment well! I would be very pleased if I could get anything like that!

Cheers for your help guys!

[momji1971]

Hi Joel,

Sorry for hijacking your thread! Anyways, a bit further afield but no too far! is Grinton lodge. Near Reeth in Swaledale, Yorkshire. Google map it. Any local area around the Youth hostel should be good. Friends have had success from cars and also on foot.

Have a search on flickr too. It's amazing how much info you can prize from there about locations etc!

Failing all that, if you still have no success, offer Julian some sweetners, he'll be a grouse expert soon!!

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Joel.W

Does anyone know of any roads or areas to try on the Macclesfield side where I could drive slowly and stop when I need to? Failing that I think I have fairly good fieldcraft and can approach animals quietly and with patience so as not to disturb them so I may have a go on foot.

Try the back road that starts just east of the Cat & Fiddle and runs up to the Ranger's centre at Derbyshire bridge. Then cross the A537 and try the minor road that links the A537 with the A53 (across Axe Edge Moor, you get Golden plover here in spring too). Head down the A53 and work your way to here:

Streetmap.co.uk- search results

You want the minor road that runs from Newstone Farm to Roach End. Here the valley drops away steeply on your right (if you're going uphill), giving you a fantastic background for photography.

Get there as early as possible, I'd be there at first light. It's probably worth going up there now to check the area, but go back again in spring when the light's better and you can get there earlier. There are other birds around too in spring, whereas it's pretty bleak up there at the moment! There used to be plenty of red deer around the woodland at Brund Hill (near Flash) but I've not been there for a few years, last time I went they were felling all the non-native trees.

I'd stay in your car if I were you. Cover an area then drive around again if necessary, grouse move around a fair bit, especially in spring when they're displaying, etc

Cheers, and good luck!
Jonathan

[Joel.W]

Thanks very much for the tips and advice guys! I will definitely drive the route you suggested Jonathon. Good luck with your 1 to 1 Julian, reading about them on Craig's website it sounds like you are in for a very rewarding day. Fingers crossed I manage to get out there soon and find some grouse! I will post back here if I get any results! Cheers

[SheffieldLass]

So you want to get close to a red grouse? These were taken above Ladybower Reservoir, on the Derwent Edge side. And the camera was just a small compact one with minimal zoom. This particular bird was very aggressive, actually wouldn't let me along the path In the end I had to detour around it. And I am looking down at the bird, it was close to my feet, almost under them .... I've not cropped the photos at all.




I've found that around about Christmas time some of the males can be fearless and do try to see you off ... a bit stupid with the guns around, though. This encounter was on 25 December (2005). And I've had other occasions when they've been like this, almost in your face.

So you may get lucky.

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

I've found that around about Christmas time some of the males can be fearless and do try to see you off ... a bit stupid with the guns around, though. This encounter was on 25 December (2005).

It's celebrating it's luck, it's safe from the guns for another year - the grouse shooting season ends on December 10th!

Cheers
Jonathan

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

It's celebrating it's luck, it's safe from the guns for another year - the grouse shooting season ends on December 10th!

Cheers
Jonathan

Explains it, and more! It was definitely retaliation against its perceived foe.

[Joel.W]

Brilliant photos, I wish one would show up that close to me. I have been up in the moors a couple of times since I started this thread. The first time whilst visiting a friend in Huddersfield where plenty were seen when we were across the valley. Upon reaching the moor, we saw none, however we saw what I believed to be good signs (piles of droppings???) and the occasional feather. The second time was in an area of north Staffordshire moorland where I have been told a good population exists. Again, I saw piles of droppings which I took to be signs of grouse, however I saw no grouse whilst there. Both times were late in the day, perhaps the last hour of the day. Is this a bad time to see grouse, as I am certain they were in both areas in high numbers! I have tried to find more info on their behaviour but struggled to determine where and when they roost etc. Does anyone with more experience have some better information about this? Cheers.

[clairey1]

I've been out photographing Red Grouse in the snow today....we went up behind Langsett Reservoir, up near the North America buildings. Saw at least 10 and managed to get within 30ft without spooking it. Has always been a reliable spoy, most times of day, also the back roads out to Winscar Reservoir.

Good luck Claire

[gtis]

Originally Posted by clairey1

I've been out photographing Red Grouse in the snow today....we went up behind Langsett Reservoir, up near the North America buildings. Saw at least 10 and managed to get within 30ft without spooking it. Has always been a reliable spoy, most times of day, also the back roads out to Winscar Reservoir.

Good luck Claire

hi
yes langsett res is good for red grouse went there last year
about 15 mins from our house
claire what were the roads like with the snow
i went up to wharncliffe crags yesterday just before the snow started
neil