The search for the North Yorkshire Moor Red Grouse

Pete October 5, 2016October 30, 2016 0 Comments Baysdale, Commondale Moor, Gamebird, Great Hograh Moor, Grouse Butts, Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Kildale Moor, Landscape, Little Hograh Moor, North Yorkshire Moor, Olympus Digital 17mm f1.8 lens, OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 Mark II, Red Grouse, Roseberry Topping, Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 APO DG, Skinner Howe Cross Road (path), Sloethorn Park, Westerdale, Westerdale Moor, Wildlife, Yorkshire

This August saw my very first visit to the North Yorkshire Moors, with the prime aim of photographing and videoing the Red Grouse amongst the abundant flowering heather that is out at this time of year. My search for the North Yorkshire Moor Red Grouse began near where I was staying at Westerdale.

The weather on the 1st full day was wet so although it wasn’t a day for photographing it did provide the opportunity to do a bit of scouting of the surrounding countryside of Westerdale and the spotting of a few Red Grouse amongst the heather. The weather was a lot better the following day and so we returned to one of the locations where we had spotted the Red Grouse on the previous day, the Hograh Moors (Little and Great), in the hope of photographing them.

The start of the waiting game began at some Grouse Butts on the moor which provided some picturesque views.

The view to Westerdale village while waiting for the grouse

The height of the heather and the Red Grouse’s natural camouflage meant we initially only heard the distinctive Red Grouse call, and then the occasional head popping out of the heather.

Amusingly, I didnt realise that behind me a Red Grouse had walked right up to the Grouse butt until I turned around prompting it to fly off. Oh for eyes in the back of my head!

After a time we decided to continue the search further into the Moors, walking the Skinner Howe Cross Road (path) to the upper reaches of Baysdale and more Grouse butts.

Here are some of the views from the pleasant walk, though little sign of any Red Grouse.

View towards Westerdale Moor & Commondale Moor

Kildale Moor with Roseberry Topping in the far distance on the Skinner Howe Cross Road (Path)

The circular route returned us to the 1st set of Grouse butts and further waiting…….

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Towards the end of the day, as the light was drawing in, our patience was finally rewarded with excellent photo and video recording opportunities (I am still to process my video recordings at time of posting this).