Black Grouse - Tetrao tetrix
Canon 800mm f7.1 for 1/200th @ iso800
Whilst off the hill there is often not a sign of ice or snow - up on the hill the Black Grouse have experienced and survived another chilly night - this bird sits just off the lek soaking up the first rays of the morning sun. It is a good 45 minutes after sunrise before any sunlight "hits" the lek, the sun coming up over the hills and then creeps from the back of the lek eventually lighting up the whole of the lek.
Whilst off the hill there is often not a sign of ice or snow - up on the hill the Black Grouse have experienced and survived another chilly night - this bird sits just off the lek soaking up the first rays of the morning sun. It is a good 45 minutes after sunrise before any sunlight "hits" the lek, the sun coming up over the hills and then creeps from the back of the lek eventually lighting up the whole of the lek.