The Dales

I had a drive over the Dales today. I started in the Durham Dales then onto Weardale and finally Teesdale. Some canny birds about including Black Grouse, I saw at least a dozen in various places but as you will be able to tell not within camera distance, Golden Plover and loads of Red Grouse. Managed to catch up with the Red Squirrels but they were always distant, pity. A couple of fighting male Pheasant was a bonus.

Red Squirrel

Male Red Grouse

Female Red Grouse

It is a Black Grouse (honest, it was the best I could get)

Golden Plover

Grey Partridge

I'm hiding so you can't seem me

Fighting cocks

 

Durham Dales

Today I took a ride around the Durham Dales in search of Black Grouse. I only came across two on my travels but there were loads of Red Grouse about. A Brown Hare was a nice find but I nearly missed it, I thought at first it was a mole hill as it was hunkered down to get out of the wind.

Derelict Lead Mine

Brown Hare

Not a very good shot of a male Black Grouse

Red Grouse

 

The Dales

Up to the Dales today to try to get some shots of Black Grouse. There were a few around but there seemed to be more males than females. However, I did not expect to get a male Black Grouse with a male Pheasant. There were also a few Grey Partridge around and a Buzzard finished the day off nicely.

Black Grouse (M)

Bait Time

Why oh why wasn’t it a nice wall instead of this gate.

Not very often you see this (or at least I don't)

Black Grouse (F)

Grey Partridge

Looking to the sky

Buzzard