Taken very early in the morning, this beautiful and colourful bird 'hunkered' down amongst the heather, endeavouring to conceal his presence. This light really helped both in BG and to highlight the bird IMHO.
Location:
Cairngorms, Scotland
Equipment:
MKIII 500f/4 1/640 f/5.6 ISO400 Car hide & beanbag
Steve
Posted by Andy Astbury on August 12, 2009 at 5:01 AM
Nice rich tones and background and classic "early doors" light Judith - top stuff
Perhaps a tad more space on the right for me - slight crop, or were you a bit close
Thats a lovely image Stephen, all the elements come together nicely. Never shot one of these myself, with a camera or a gun and never tasted one either.
Robert
Posted by David Taylor on August 12, 2009 at 5:09 AM
It doesn't look all that concerned. Beautiful colour shades and BG. Not too tight for me.
Appreciate the feedback guys, I hope both Simon and I have portrayed this lovely bird in it's best 'light', in all aspects of the word. Just hope they are not all bagged this week
Nice to here from you Mr X how are things, have you been spending time with 'Old' Father Time?
Steve
Posted by Alfie Thomas on August 12, 2009 at 8:14 AM
Brilliant shot, impressive colours and the detail is excellent. Has the lot for me!
A nice atmospheric one Steve, I like the lighter colours in the background in front of the bird. Was this from a little earlier in the year (judging by those breeding eyebrows)? A shame they don't pump them up a bit more at the moment to compliment the heather. I suppose their hormones must be well and truely spent by this time of year
Nice shot there Steve, is it full frame or cropped? I did some similar stuff last November on the ny moors, then had to go up the next week to do it all again in the snow
Grouse reports just out, say that numbers are low in the ny dales, and some shooting days have been canceled accordingly, low numbers are due to an under shoot last year which left a high population at the end of season, this has caused disease amongst the birds over winter.
The ny moors is doing much better this year numbers are up on last year, but the mild wet winters and springs have allowed the heather beetle to multiply, this beetle feeds on and kills the young heather which the grouse feed on, leaving patches of dead heather, so the grouse are in patches. The heather is just starting to flower up here, took a look up the moors on Saturday, on the southern and sheltered slops it is flowering well, on the northern an exposed slopes it will need another week'ish to be in bloom.
Interestingly grouse are not bred as pheasants and partridges are, they are just left to their own devices, shooting actually manages their numbers in the same way natural predators would have in the past. Grouse shooting season ends in early December.
Hi Simon, yes it was, about mid April when you get though cold, crisp bright mornings and that lovely light we all chase for, well I do but perhaps it's a bit more of a waddle
Thanks for the info Dani. Will be back up next week for more of these, plus can have a word with the little 'Blue flashes' too, as I really do need to get some stuff in the bag Do I need to pack a hide?
Nah, I have a pop up one in the boot of the car if needed along with camo nets etc, I also have a ghillie suit, so you can sit and hold out a stick, if you want to get that close I'm free so far all next week so give me a shout and I'll meet you, I have the combination to the gate so out of hours won't be a problem either.
Discussion
19 repliesLocation:
Cairngorms, Scotland
Equipment:
MKIII 500f/4 1/640 f/5.6 ISO400 Car hide & beanbag
Steve
Perhaps a tad more space on the right for me - slight crop, or were you a bit close
Robert
Simon
Nice to here from you Mr X how are things, have you been spending time with 'Old' Father Time?
Steve
Simon
Grouse reports just out, say that numbers are low in the ny dales, and some shooting days have been canceled accordingly, low numbers are due to an under shoot last year which left a high population at the end of season, this has caused disease amongst the birds over winter.
The ny moors is doing much better this year numbers are up on last year, but the mild wet winters and springs have allowed the heather beetle to multiply, this beetle feeds on and kills the young heather which the grouse feed on, leaving patches of dead heather, so the grouse are in patches. The heather is just starting to flower up here, took a look up the moors on Saturday, on the southern and sheltered slops it is flowering well, on the northern an exposed slopes it will need another week'ish to be in bloom.
Interestingly grouse are not bred as pheasants and partridges are, they are just left to their own devices, shooting actually manages their numbers in the same way natural predators would have in the past. Grouse shooting season ends in early December.
Thanks for the info Dani. Will be back up next week for more of these, plus can have a word with the little 'Blue flashes' too, as I really do need to get some stuff in the bag
cheers
Steve
cheers
Steve
Brett