Magical Black Grouse

Welcome to new website look and I have pleasure in launching the BLOG with an amazing set of new images of one of my favourite birds, the Black Grouse. I have had a long love affair with black grouse, almost as long as with A-ha and the legendary Shalamar. I have worked in the UK with them on private sites in North Wales and the North Pennines, but the leks can be small and tough to work. I do hope that rewilding efforts in the UK do bring back black grouse numbers to better levels as these birds are so magical that they deserve to be enjoyed by everyone. Certainly as a Dad I would love to show my daughter a lek in full swing.

In search of much bigger leks and therefore more action, Suzie and I I travelled to Finland a couple of months ago to work with our long term friend Jari at his black grouse hides. Because I had just arrived back from India, we only arrived in Finland at 2am and to be honest we were severely tempted not to get up at 4am to get to the hide. It was touch and go, for many other species I would have just crashed but Black Grouse just draw you to them. They are amazing fun and really challenging for my photography too, which makes them doubly attractive to me! I love being challenged, it makes me do my best work.

So we set off, and on the drive it started to snow slightly. It was the first snow they had had in weeks and we hope maybe for a light covering - well our wishes more than came true!!! As we got into the hide a blizzard descended on us, when the grouse arrived on the lek we could only barely see them. But of course we could hear them and that always brings a smile to anyone’s face no matter how much they need sleep!

For the next 4 hours it was truly magical. The snow made the pictures so special, it is a cliche but it was an incredible winter wonderland. They were just magical in the snow, here’s a simple one…

Kit wise I was shooting with the Sony A1 MK2 and 600mm f4 + 300mm f2.8 ; Suzie was shooting 4K movie with the A7CR and my 200-600mm. All were supported on our amazing Flexshooter tripod heads that made the big lenses feel weightless and so easy to move when needed. The kit performed so well in very very tough conditions

Today I have finished processing the entire collection and sent it to my agent already. Below is a slideshow of a few favourite images from the trip for you to enjoy!

If you fancy coming and experiencing black grouse for yourself then we have 1 space remaining on next year’s lekking tour - you get exclusive access in 3 different locations, custom built hides with low angle slots plus the chance of Goshawk, Golden Eagle and maybe some owl friends too. If you are interested then click here for the brochure link on our tour site.

Patreon Wildbunch members note that the first Travel Diary from this trip, including all Suzie’s amazing slow mo movie footage and my stills, will be live this Sunday on the site. If you are not a member then check it out here and remember we do trials and gift memberships too.