Skylark - Alauda arvensis
Canon 800mm f8 for 1/1000th @ iso400
Caught somewhat by surprise by the adverse weather conditions the Skylarks who had already begun to lay claim to their moorland territories where overnight grounded by the sudden arrival of snow. Only the day before the Skylarks who had been flying high and singing where now hunkered down on the cold and frozen ground - the moors now silent and along with the Skylarks the other Spring time birds were now having to cope with the deluge of snow which had transformed the May moorland into something more akin to a deep winter landscape.
The Black Grouse are not put off by the snow and continue their challenges to other males as they seek dominance of the lek.
Caught somewhat by surprise by the adverse weather conditions the Skylarks who had already begun to lay claim to their moorland territories where overnight grounded by the sudden arrival of snow. Only the day before the Skylarks who had been flying high and singing where now hunkered down on the cold and frozen ground - the moors now silent and along with the Skylarks the other Spring time birds were now having to cope with the deluge of snow which had transformed the May moorland into something more akin to a deep winter landscape.
The Black Grouse are not put off by the snow and continue their challenges to other males as they seek dominance of the lek.