Ruffed Grouse

Spent the day at Presqu'ile Provincial Park located on the shores of Lake Ontario just outside of Brighton. I saw many interesting birds today, and managed a couple of snaps of this ruffed grouse which marks the first time I'd ever succeeded in obtaining some full frame shots of said species.

Cheers, and I hope your 2013 is better than your 2012!

Love these birds. Pretty hard to get a decent photo off them. Good one here.

Beautiful shot of a gorgeous bird!

Great capture

Excellent capture Attila.

KT29 wrote in post #15433706
Love these birds. Pretty hard to get a decent photo off them. Good one here.

Thanks! It was fun trying to wait out the bird as it went through the branches without spooking him. It finally came to an opening where I got this shot along with a couple of others of it feeding - really lucked out!

rrblint wrote in post #15433714
Beautiful shot of a gorgeous bird!

Thank you for your kind words. I've always seen them from far away and never really had the chance to see their feather pattern until now, and they are stunning.

Patc wrote in post #15433978
Great capture

Thanks!

Wallace River wrote in post #15434124
Excellent capture Attila.

Thanks much!

Very nice shot of the Ruffed Grouse... looks like he was lunching on buds... one of my favorite birds to observe and photograph.

Dave

dbriz wrote in post #15434312
Very nice shot of the Ruffed Grouse... looks like he was lunching on buds... one of my favorite birds to observe and photograph.

Dave

Hello Dave, thanks for your kind comments. He was munching on the buds of the tree until he flew even deeper into the forest. A brief search of a trail in the general direction yielded no results.

Very nice shot. I've heard that is a terrific location for birds, would like to get there sometime soon.

jroovs wrote in post #15435058
Very nice shot. I've heard that is a terrific location for birds, would like to get there sometime soon.

Hi there, thanks for your kind words.

Presqu'ile is a good place to see many different types of birds. The best times, in my opinion, are during the spring and fall migration when there is a great assortment of species passing through the area - especially shorebirds and the birds that hunt them.

During the winter months you'll see many winter ducks, quite a few chickadees and hairy/downy woodpeckers, and the occasional pileated. Raptor wise this winter I haven't seen any snowy or barred owls, but I do know that they are present. During my visit I also saw a pair of juvenile bald eagles soaring along the shoreline where the lighthouse is situated. You also stand to see some deer as well.

During the winter months be prepared to do a fair amount of walking through the trails which criss cross the woodlands or head to Owens Point Trail and follow it out all the way to the lake. If the water is low enough, cross over to the islands as well.

Either way, you're bound to find something which will get your mojo going. If you get the chance to go during the spring or fall migration, book yourself a campsite for the weekend and enjoy a different area of the park each day you're there. Just don't forget the bug juice if you go in the spring as the mosquito's will eat you alive.

Well done In Presqu'ile. As you mentioned spring & fall migrations are great times to go there too.

Stephen Stephen wrote in post #15436790
Well done In Presqu'ile. As you mentioned spring & fall migrations are great times to go there too.

Thank you Stephen, appreciate your kind words.