Red Grouse on the Moor at Creagan Riabhach

Usually the first sign of a grouse on the moor are the loud croaking sounds it makes as it flies off into the distance.

Yesterday morning, we met this dear little fellow/gal. He/she was not a bit afraid. Dancing around our feet and even trying to attack the camera when I got too close. We videoed it for a bit, after I'd got some decent photos, and it didn't seem to want to fly off. Hubby practically chased it and although it moved plenty and made plenty noise, it was not for flying off. We can't work out why. A young one? A stupid one? A friendly one? A male protecting its territory? Who knows, but it gave us some great entertainment on a windy, dreich day in the Scottish hills.

[Hazel]

Very handsome!.

[Peter Day]

...must be a friend of yours.

[Sylvia du Toit]

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing

[haskar]

Well caught. Lovely details.

[julia]

They are a very handsome bird.. Could it be handreared.. We have pheasants around that were reared by the acclimatization people and then released in tbe area..
.

[Merrelyn]

What an interesting looking bird. Those red "eyebrows" certainly stand out.

[Bep]

Great shot of this beautiful bird.

[Margo Sayer]

Another dreich day! I wouldn't mind a few if it flushed out birds like this one. Very different habitat here...think forest and lakes.

[Rosie Kind]

A great shot and so interesting to hear how tame it was. FAv

[KoalaGardens🐨]

wonderful :)

[Richard Sayer]

They’re handsome birds but don't look to be designed for flight as this one appears to have realised!

[Tunia McClure]

I like those fluffy feet.

[Carole G]

Well captured, I usually have the same experience as you with pheasants. There's one in our paddock, which I hear regular, and sometimes I flush him out accidentally, but he's always too quick for a photo.

[Kathy]

Such a brilliant head on a drab body.

[Taffy]

Such an unusual looking bird with those big red eyebrows.

[Sarah Bremner]

Wonderful photo and such an interesting experience....you won't forget that day.

[Issi Bannerman]

@julzmaioro Yes, we have a number of pheasant farms in our area, but I've not heard of grouse farming or rearing yet. However, who knows?!

[Issi Bannerman]

@yorkshirekiwi We have one pheasant who returns to our garden for winter. He's not too skittish so I can usually sneak up on him - funnily enough, he's literally just returned (see today's 365 post).

[Issi Bannerman]

@tunia Yes, me too!

[Issi Bannerman]

@s4sayer Yes, must admit, it did make my day!

[Denise Wood]

Terrific capture :)

[Denise (lyndemc)]

"Stupid one?" That made me laugh out loud! Glad I was drinking coffee while reading your commentary... the computer screen would've definitely needed a bath.