Westerdale Moors Wildlife

Red Grouse in heather on Blakey Moor

Whilst up in the Yorkshire Moors I spent a couple of days photographing wildlife on the moors.  The first days results are in this previous post.  These wildlife images are of course, therefore, from the second day, which I spent walking locally around Westerdale’s nearby moorlands, and this day was much more productive.

I’ll start though with another sheep image.

Sheep grazing on Westerdale Moor
Sheep grazing on Westerdale Moor

This was not the first wild animal seen though, this belonged to a group of pheasants that were in a farmers field.  I managed to photograph this one in the grass.

What are you staring at ?
What are you staring at ?
Female Pheasant in Grass
Female Pheasant in Grass

Nearby the farmhouse whose field I photographed the pheasant, there was a lot of flying swallows and their young.  Here some were resting briefly in a tree.

Flock of Swallows in Tree
Flock of Swallows in Tree

I also photographed some Red Grouse on the day – the best results coming from Blakey Moor.

This first grouse, at first hiding – then popping into view a few feet from my 300mm lens.

I see you. Do you see me ?
I see you. Do you see me ?
Red Grouse in heather on Blakey Moor
Red Grouse in heather on Blakey Moor
Red Grouse peering out from heather
Red Grouse peering out from heather
Red Grouse looking out of heather on Blakey Moor
Red Grouse looking out of heather on Blakey Moor

Whilst this one was out basking in the sunlight.

Grouse on the Moor
Grouse on the Moor

Even in old ragged heather the Grouse can be seen.  These the last images of the day.

Red Grouse in old heather
Red Grouse in old heather
Looking away
Looking away
Red Grouse looking out of old heather
Red Grouse looking out of old heather
Red Grouse in profile
Red Grouse in profile
Red Grouse in profile (2)
Red Grouse in profile (2)

 

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ChrisA

I have been taking photography seriously since 2004. I have a website dedicated to my favourite type of photography - macro @ www.macro-photo.co.uk I also enjoy taking landscape and wildlife shots, which I show on akeyphoto.co.uk I hope you enjoy both websites.

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