Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse

I finally got the grouse drumming on his log, which is located just behind the salt block shed about fifty yards or so.  I have been trying to capture this grouse for a year now.  It started short after moving onto Prairie Home.  Each time I would setup on the log for a photo session, I would have to wait at least a half hour before the grouse would return to the log.  If anything was a-rye, off he would go again.  Last year I did have one session where all I got to do was to watch the grouse drumming from a distance of ten feet, because he lined up behind a tree no photos were taken. Typical!    This year I have been out three times now, sitting, waiting in my portable blind.  Each time he failed to return and I had other things to do.  For example; yesterday I sat for an hour without his reappearance.  I returned to my chicken coop cleaning chores, and wasn't in the yard more than fifteen minutes when I heard the sound coming for the drumming log.  This morning, he started up well before sunrise, so after a few cups of java, I left the warmth of the house to sit in the thirty degree temperature Popular laden woodlot.  It was about forty minutes before he returned and immediately started drumming.  I was able to get some good shots while he was in action.. The only problem, the sun was coming and going as clouds drifted by, covering all my natural lighting.  None the less, I got him and now he can drum in peace.  I wish him many mates!