Grouse

It's springtime, and male red grouse are getting territorial. About the size of a plump partridge, a deep chestnut-brown in colour, they appear unremarkable, save for an eye-catching red eyebrow; a sign of how good a partner he would make to a female. Bigger and brighter is better, and any other flash of red on a male's territory is seen as competition, even if that red flash is your red coat! A red grouse can get carried away when chasing off rivals, and have even been known to react angrily to a red car parking nearby, while the females quietly go about their business.

The fabulous uplands of at Glaslyn Nature Reserve, Montgomeryshire will take your breath away with stunning views of the Dyfi valley and beyond. The reserve is open all year round but your best chance of spying a red grouse is in the late summer when the chicks have grown and the heather is in flower. 

Not all grouse are as brave as others. Most red grouse will fly away if disturbed, whirring wings skimming them low and fast over the heather. And especially at this time of year, keep dogs on a lead when there are ground nesting birds about and stick to the footpaths.

Red grouse isn’t the only grouse in Britain. The handsome black grouse is famous for its lekking behaviour, where several males gather together to fight over the attentions of the females. These leks are now few and far between, and very easy to disturb, but Durham Wildlife Trust has some wonderful videos of black grouse lekking on its YouTube channel like the one below, as well as its Living Uplands website.

From seeing colourful wildflowers to spotting magnificent birds of prey, we can help you get closer to wildlife across the UK.