The Black Grouse is a large grouse of heather moors, woodland margins and birch scrub. Its numbers have declined sharply in recent years giving cause for concern. They are best seen at communal lek sites where males (black cocks) display togther to attract the females (grey hens). Some of these images were taken at a lek site in the Southern Highlands in late May. At this time of year the actual breeding displaying season is long past and the male birds occasionally gather on an sunny evening just to loaf about. It is not permissable to approach a lek site during the critical breeding season.
The final set of images are of female birds (known as Grey Hen) feeding on the buds of larch trees at a different location.