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The Famous Grouse


The Famous Grouse
Photo Information
Copyright: Niek Bouwen (SunToucher) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2192 W: 191 N: 2421] (8866)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-17
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Canon 400 5.6L, 1.4 X converter
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: Summer vacation 2007: Scotland
Theme(s): 40 - 49 Points (Chapter 11), Where They Really Live [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-09-10 10:21
Viewed: 879
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
While in the land of the Wisky, what other bird needs to be captured then the Red Grouse?

After seeing the top of the Cairn Gorm Mountain we took of for half an hour drive to Lochindorb to spot Osprey, Partridge and Red Grouse. I did see all three of them but was only able to get some good photos from the latter.

The Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus)The Red Grouse is differentiated from the Willow Grouse and Ptarmigan by its plumage being reddish brown and not having a white winter plumage. The tail is black and the legs are white. There are white stripes on the underwing and red combs over the eye. Females are less reddish than the males and have less conspicuous combs. Young birds are duller and lack the red combs.

The Red Grouse is endemic to the British Isles; it has developed in isolation from other subspecies of the Willow Grouse which are widespread in northern parts of Eurasia and North America.

It is found across most parts of Scotland, including Orkney, Shetland and most of the Outer Hebrides. They are only absent from urban areas, such as the central belt, the flatter areas of the north-east and around Fife.

Its typical habitat is upland heather moors away from trees. It can also be found in some low-lying bogs and birds may visit farmland during hard weather.

The British population is estimated at about 250,000 pairs with around 1-5,000 pairs in Ireland. Numbers have declined in recent years and birds are now absent in areas where they were once common. Reasons for the decline include loss of heather due to overgrazing and the creation of new conifer plantations. Some predators such as the Hen Harrier feed on grouse and there is ongoing controversy as to what effect these have on grouse numbers.

Red Grouse have been introduced to the Hautes Fagnes region of Belgium but the population there died out in the early 1970s.

We first spoted the Red Grouse from the car. We pulled over and watched them for a while. Then Emma and I decided to stalk them. We slowly moved close and closer shooting photos when we could. I did cause one hillarious moment when Emma decided to move forward a bit faster. She almost stepped on a Red Grouse.

I had a hard time getting some good shots. I think it was the combination of the tall grass and heather, the impatience of Emma and I, and the fact that I was shooting a total 560mm handheld with manual focus.
gracious, parthasarathi, Evelynn, Silke, tiklod, Necipp, Aramok, marhowie, PaulH, marioana, SelenE, lovenature, hester, valy67, oscarromulus has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To mbasil: Same hereSunToucher 1 09-10 22:55
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Niek,
Still in good clarity and sharpness of the red Grouse stalk in the tall grass with good DOF!
thank you for sharing the wonderful and useful notes about the Grouse!
thanks for sharing
cheers
Tony

Nice grab and a good note.

Hi Niek,
that's so lovely, what a nice moment, I like it so much
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Man! Handheld with that lens... I am surprised that you got anything! The colors are lovely. I think your grouse is a bit overpowered by all that OOF area. I tried an alternate crop.

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 108 N: 1729] (5398)
  • [2007-09-10 11:21]

A most amusing posting that shows off the difficulty in capturing the bird :D
Great colours details and composition
TFS
Silke

Hello Niek lucky to get a shot of the famous grouse in the best place also with good dof I just wish the blade of grass wasn't so close to the eye hope you got more shots, nice how it contrasts in the dry grass. Well composed tfs rgds Necip.

  • Great 
  • tiklod Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 300 W: 74 N: 883] (3367)
  • [2007-09-10 11:45]

Hello Niek,
A great summer and country photo. Beautiful colours and focus. I like how your bird is «lost» in this grass fied.
Thanks,

Claude

Hi Niek
There is something in this photo. Simple situation, mostly grass blades and a bird hidden inside the golden grassy universe. Very nice simple composition, beautiful delicate colors and very good DOF
Best wishes
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • Aramok Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 922 W: 99 N: 1396] (4799)
  • [2007-09-10 12:19]

Hi Niek

Nice shot. maybe I will actually post a picture of one of the ones I got, I managed to get both the male and the female, so shall maybe post them together. I do find the OOF FG a bit distracting, but I know how difficult it was especially given we did not have camoflagued clothing!

Great colours and a very steady hand! It does show how well they can disappear into the vegetation.

TFS
Emma

Hi Niek,
Sometimes the minimalistic approach to composition works very well..as seen here.
The bird seems to be peaking it's head up, taking a look at ya :)
Nice colors, exposure, and details.
Well done!
Howard

Wow, Niek, that's one shy little critter if you gotta hit it with that much lens! But the end result is very nice. I don't mind the OF fg TOO much, though I agree it would be better without it. Of course, with that much lens you'd probably have to be 100 feet off the ground... Too bad that one strand of grass is obscuring his face, but it does add a bit more atmosphere to the shot.
Mike

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 927 W: 4 N: 2317] (10792)
  • [2007-09-11 1:01]

Niek, I like this composition and specially the hiding bird inside the bush. It must have took some trouble for you to take this shot. Very nice Ganesh

beautiful, great composition, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 26 N: 2998] (10820)
  • [2007-09-11 4:51]

Hi Niek,
i literally stumbled across a pair of these whilst hiking just south of Loch Ness in Scotland this year, it scared the life out of me as they sped off! Waaay to quick for me to even get my camera out of my bag, let alone take a shot.
Here you have done well i think. There is alot going on with the grass that makes it a little busy i think, but i am by no means an expert at wildlife photography and i would imagine this alone was hard enough to get. You've done extremely well to get this handheld. Great colour, composition and it's good to see it how you always only glimpse them anyway. I've bought a Sigma 170-500mm which i am nowhere near getting anything good with yet.
tfs
Paul

Hello Niek.
I really like your notes. "I was shooting a total 560mm handheld with manual focus." Very challenging and I can imagine it would test your patience. But it paid off. You have a beautiful capture. I love the colours and the flowing long grass. But did you sample some of the liquid kind? ;) Well done my friend.
Best regards, Steve.

Hi Niek
I love this! A typical stance of your Grouse peeking up through the grass. It's almost like he's playing peek a boo with you. The tiny pink flowers add a touch of colour within the grass. Colours, lighting, details and composition are wonderful. Informative note too.
TFS Janice

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2351 W: 61 N: 3811] (12226)
  • [2007-09-11 23:36]

Hi Niek,
Clever title :o) He's well hidden. Good composition and colors. TFS
Have a nice day,
Selen

Hello Niek,
They live in danger over here now as the hunting season started last Monday!
By experience I know these birds not exactly stop up to pose for photography, this is well done and shows the bird in typical behaviour!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1471 W: 18 N: 2981] (10944)
  • [2007-09-12 10:27]

Hi Niek

When I spotted this shot I immediately thought of whiskey and your shots on Trek Lens so I was amused to see your note. The DOF is lovely giving a wonderful look and feel to the scene. I love the partly hidden Grouse. Lovely colours tones and light in this shot

TFS

Karan

Hello Niek,

Wonderful picture. You have used a narrow depth of fiel to great effect. Well done.

Mike

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 107 N: 4816] (21378)
  • [2007-09-13 14:35]

Hello Niek ! You have captured a great bird ! Even with the difficulties of shooting the image is beautiful with that perfect decor ! Well done ! Thanks,

Mario

Hello Niek !
I love this pictue, with the Grouse peeking out of the high grasses ! Composition and POV are perfect, colors are natural but also vivid. You were lucky to meet this beautiful bird and to be able to caputre him. Very well done !
Valerie.

BEAUTIFULLY DONE, Niek.
Had it not looked up this subject would easily pass as part of the landscape.
Your notes are EXCELLENT.
Greetings from Canada from,
Mario.

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