A 4am start and a 2hr+ drive up the M6 then east into the high Pennines for another look at some lekking Black Grouse and other upland birds. I arrived at an un-publicised site at dawn and could see no Blk Grouse at all, and a big sinking feeling started to come over me. A long drive for nothing?? A drive around the area away from the targeted site produced 4 different lekking areas involving well over 50 males,but all very distant from the tracks. Also visible were lots of Red Grouse, Golden Plover, Snipe, a Peregrine, a Goshawk, a fem Hen Harrier (all of which was nice to see on a keepered Grouse moor!), Raven, Curlew etc.

Being content to see so much already i was even more pleased when a whole distant lek took flight and landed in a field at the side of the track i was in the car on.!! After letting them settle i drove 20-30 yrds towards them to try for some pics. They were jumpy but with only me there i was lucky and they stayed put for over an hours. Superb view of this scarce and secretive bird. Also a Female put in an appearance just down the road towards home as i set off back towards home early afternoon.

Female Blk Grouse.

Male and Female Red Grouse..