Posted by Oscar Dewhurst on December 28, 2010 at 1:20 PM
I hope you all had a good Christmas. I have just come back from Yorkshire where I was trying to photograph Red Grouse on the moors. They were partly covered in snow, but I found it impossible to approach them closer than 50m without flushing them. I also found it very difficult to spot them on the ground in the first place unless I saw them flying, before landing somewhere as there was some snow, but it did not cover all of the heather. Does anyone know how I should try to approach them? I will be up there in the Summer, so will try again then, but I just wondered if there was anything different I should do.
At this time of year they tend to be a bit more easily spooked due to it being shooting season. They're understandably a bit edgier. Your best bet to getting close to them is to get your mum/dad to drive around the moors and to pull up gently when you come across any birds. You can get quite close and get shots from the car window. Plus, it's generally a lot warmer at this time of year too! Same goes for summer.
Posted by Craig Jones on December 28, 2010 at 6:04 PM
Oscar, Grinton Lodge, Yorkshire is a good place I am told by friends as not been, where you can shoot them from the car very easy. Head for the Youth Hostel outside of Reeth,Swaledale and the moors there are the best, alot of the shots you see about are from this location, I photograph these beautiful birds in the Peak District.Good luck and hoped that has helped
Oscar, I live just below the Grinton moors. The Grouse are generally a bit harder to approach in the winter, especially when there is snow on the ground (they will often go where there is less snow to feed - including to lower levels on the edge of the moors). They can get quite stressed so it takes quite a while for them to be at ease with your presence. You will find it much easier in early Spring or Summer when the males in particular are more boisterous. The stretch of road between Redmire and Grinton Lodge (Reeth) is probably a good place to try.
If you see any Grouse near the road then try asking your Mum or Dad to roll up to them very slowly with the engine off (if possible) - have your window down and beanbag in position ready to go. I find it best not to move about in the car for a while (that goes for anyone else in the car) until the Grouse becomes used to the presence of the vehicle. They will usually then go back to feeding on the heather in most cases and will happily let you move around and get some images. A bit of camo netting or scrim across the window you are shooting from will help too.
Individual birds can have very different characters so it can take a while to find an accommodating subject. A carefully planned and slow approach will usually get you the best chance of a shot. Hope that helps
Simon
Posted by Ron McCombe on December 29, 2010 at 5:16 AM
Hi Oscar
I photograph these brilliant birds on the Lammermuir Hills in the Scottish Borders, they are not the easiest bids to get near to. I find spending time just watching were they are, what they are doing and where they are feeding, where they roost. A very good time to get close to them is in the breeding season, the males mark out a territory and call and look to attract females. At this time their minds are on other things and because of this, it is possible to get quite close to them.. But again observation is the name of the game.
Find out were their territories are (you will see the males repelling other birds) and set out a plan of attack. In a situation like I describe, a hide is difficult to use, (the window of view is to narrow) wearing camouflage gear and sitting is the heather is a better option you will have better maneuverability on the ground. Get to know the birds habits.
If possible and you can get an adult to help you........
A car is a very good option to find birds near to the road/track-side using a bean bag on the window bottom. Observe from a distance and have the bean bag sitting on the car window bottom ready with the camera on it before you approach the bird in question, if you do spook the bird you will get at least a few seconds to get some images before the bird flies. If it doesn't, then just sit without moving for a few minutes, the bird/birds will get used to the vehicle very quickly if it poses no threat. Like most wild animals grouse are very good at picking up movement. They will get used to the vehicle very quickly and go about their business.
Make sure that you hands are covered with gloves and wear a midge net, this will take the starkness of your face. The hands and the face are the things that will spook the birds into flying away.
There is no easy way to get grouse picture but one thing is for sure, observation, observation observation there is no substitution for it.
Good luck Oscar
Ron
Posted by Oscar Dewhurst on December 29, 2010 at 8:33 AM
Thanks for the advice.
Craig and Simon, Grinton Moors are about 2 hours away from my aunt's. I am only up in Yorkshire when staying with my aunt, so I would not be able to go to Grinton in the near future.
Unfortunately, the moors are closed from March 31 until August 31 to everyone, so it is impossible to get up there. Also, they are (I think) quite hard to get to by car, but I will check next time I am up there.
Ron (fantastic shot by the way) and Nick, I will try to get up there in a car, but it would have to be after August 31 or before March 31 and I am not sure if they are accessible by car.
Oscar, not sure where you got that info from... unless you're on a private estate and walking on a private track - ie off the public highway or right of way, then Moors aren't closed at any time. Some public rights of way (footpaths/bridleways) may be temporarily suspended during the shooting season (after 12th Aug.), but the public roads are never closed (unless by snowdrift ).
Posted by Oscar Dewhurst on December 29, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Nick, people are not allowed to walk across them from March 31 to August 31 - I do not know why, but my aunt who walks her dogs regularly up there has told me.
Oscar, the moorland in the Yorkshire Dales isn't closed to walkers between those dates at all. Some smaller areas of Estates are occasionally closed for a few weeks but most of the land is open access and can be walked at any time. Dogs are discouraged during the breeding season which coincides with the dates you mention though so that may be where the confusion may arise. If you do venture up here at any time then please feel free to email me and I'll let you know the best places to try.
Oscar, if you check the moorland where your Aunt walks the dogs, be that the NY Moors or the Dales, you'll probably find some sign boards around the edges (or near to the public footpaths/roads) which detail any areas with sections falling under the Countryside and Rights of Way act - and any exclusion/amendments. The dates you mention coincide with the wading bird breeding season, and the moorland may well be closed to general aimless wandering that is allowed in some areas via the CROW act... but the roads and public footpaths/bridleways are certainly not closed during those time.. those of us who live & work in the moorland areas (like Simon & myself!) wouldn't be able to move otherwise!
Public rights of way, footpaths, cycleways and bridleways can be temporarily closed for a short time (from a day, to a week or two) during the shooting season for public safety - but they do usually give details on 'diversions' which can be used instead.
Discussion
9 repliesThanks
Oscar
If you see any Grouse near the road then try asking your Mum or Dad to roll up to them very slowly with the engine off (if possible) - have your window down and beanbag in position ready to go. I find it best not to move about in the car for a while (that goes for anyone else in the car) until the Grouse becomes used to the presence of the vehicle. They will usually then go back to feeding on the heather in most cases and will happily let you move around and get some images. A bit of camo netting or scrim across the window you are shooting from will help too.
Individual birds can have very different characters so it can take a while to find an accommodating subject. A carefully planned and slow approach will usually get you the best chance of a shot. Hope that helps
Simon
I photograph these brilliant birds on the Lammermuir Hills in the Scottish Borders, they are not the easiest bids to get near to. I find spending time just watching were they are, what they are doing and where they are feeding, where they roost. A very good time to get close to them is in the breeding season, the males mark out a territory and call and look to attract females. At this time their minds are on other things and because of this, it is possible to get quite close to them.. But again observation is the name of the game.
Find out were their territories are (you will see the males repelling other birds) and set out a plan of attack. In a situation like I describe, a hide is difficult to use, (the window of view is to narrow) wearing camouflage gear and sitting is the heather is a better option you will have better maneuverability on the ground. Get to know the birds habits.
If possible and you can get an adult to help you........
A car is a very good option to find birds near to the road/track-side using a bean bag on the window bottom. Observe from a distance and have the bean bag sitting on the car window bottom ready with the camera on it before you approach the bird in question, if you do spook the bird you will get at least a few seconds to get some images before the bird flies. If it doesn't, then just sit without moving for a few minutes, the bird/birds will get used to the vehicle very quickly if it poses no threat. Like most wild animals grouse are very good at picking up movement. They will get used to the vehicle very quickly and go about their business.
Make sure that you hands are covered with gloves and wear a midge net, this will take the starkness of your face. The hands and the face are the things that will spook the birds into flying away.
There is no easy way to get grouse picture but one thing is for sure, observation, observation observation there is no substitution for it.
Good luck Oscar
Ron
Craig and Simon, Grinton Moors are about 2 hours away from my aunt's. I am only up in Yorkshire when staying with my aunt, so I would not be able to go to Grinton in the near future.
Unfortunately, the moors are closed from March 31 until August 31 to everyone, so it is impossible to get up there. Also, they are (I think) quite hard to get to by car, but I will check next time I am up there.
Ron (fantastic shot by the way) and Nick, I will try to get up there in a car, but it would have to be after August 31 or before March 31 and I am not sure if they are accessible by car.
Thanks again,
Oscar
Public rights of way, footpaths, cycleways and bridleways can be temporarily closed for a short time (from a day, to a week or two) during the shooting season for public safety - but they do usually give details on 'diversions' which can be used instead.