We caught each other by surprise this afternoon. Both walking quietly through the woods me on the trail he through the brush. Once we eyed each other I reached for the camera and got a quick photo. Head held high gave me the once over before quickly flying off into the woods. A quick and satisfying encounter for me and given I was not a hunter for him as well.
For the first time in the 29 summers we’ve lived here, the woods were silent of the drumming of ruffed grouse. I’m hoping it was just the bad winter last year and a one-off season, but disturbing nonetheless. We missed them.
Hi Eliza, we hope it was just a bad year for the grouse in your area we have seen a few this fall but not in the amount we have in the past.
Thanks, me, too.
Amazing camouflage!
It is pretty cool how evolution works all the way down to the last feather. Hop your having a wonderfull week.
Oh how I love to see this bird, so difficult to spot, and not abundant. I have done some pretty crazy things trying to just see this magnificent bird, so this photo was a big treat, thanks Mike.
HI Jet, well heres to good luck find a few next time you go out looking but…avoid the crazy stuff. Hope your week is off to wonderful start.
Reblogged this on Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog.
Thanks for sharing with your readers.
Nice you got a fleeting look and lovely capture of this beauty. Thanks for adding info about their likely habitat shift.
Thanks Ellen, we never seem to get a prolonged view of these birds. It would be a pity for them to disappear from our region.
Yes it would be a pity–so many consequences throughout our ecosystems. We get excited to see new bird species in our area but need to acknowledge that it likely means that some factor isn’t as welcoming to another species that previously thrived here.
That is a good observation, We have regular blue jays being observed in our area. An occurrence that is very new and probably related to habitat loss in other places.