Capercaillie lekking

[luzula]

I have spent the last two nights in a shelter in the forest, trying to see the capercaillie lekking. Capercaillies are large grouse birds, where the cocks fight each other and do a mating display dance; to see this you need to go into the camouflaged shelter at about five in the afternoon and then be absolutely silent from then on until you leave it at about eleven the next morning. Also, the shelter will be very cold, and you have to get up at three in the morning so as to get the getting up out of the way before the birds start. And there's no guarantee that you'll see much.

I paid a guide (who is an acquaintance of mine) to go on one of his tours for this; you can of course do it yourself, but then you need to know a place where they do the lekking and also set up a shelter long in advance so they get used to it. The three other people on this tour were all retired white men with huge camera equipment.

The first morning, I saw a cock strut past the shelter (looking cock-sure). I also heard two cocks fighting some distance away, making impressive thuds--they bang their wings against each other as well as use their beaks. But I didn't see them. Also I heard the mating display sounds (kind of a ticking noise) but only saw glimpses since it was behind a rock spur. I did see the cock leap upwards once though!

The second morning, I heard really well the noises of the cocks coming down from the trees before dawn with a fluttering thud, like they're making their entry into the ring. Also I heard the hens in the trees making a cooing sound. Then nothing, nada, silence. The guide said there was probably a predator nearby and that he thought he'd heard a northern goshawk. Ah well. It was a lovely morning for it otherwise, with frost, a clear sky, and no wind.

I do wish I'd seen more, but obviously they're not performing for my sake! Now to catch up on sleep...

Comments

[regshoe]

:O Even though you didn't see more, that is an extremely cool thing to see anything at all of! I've never seen a capercaillie (there are none in England, and in Scotland only a few in particular bits of woodland in the Highlands). Also I admire your dedication, staying in that cold shelter and getting up so early—that is some proper birdwatching. :D

[luzula]

I've seen them before, since I spend a lot of time out in the forest, but usually you only see (or hear) them noisily flying away like a big black blur.

Yes, it doesn't seem like England has the sort of habitat they need! Aside from large areas of conifer forest, they also need wetlands/swamp forest. I do hope they can hold on in Scotland…

[sanguinity]

Such is often the way! But I hope that despite the cold and sleep-disruption and lack of good lekking-viewing, that being out there had other joys to compensate.

[luzula]

Oh, I was quite aware of the risk of not seeing much! Much better to have low expectations so as not to be disappointed... And it was beautiful this morning, with dawn coming in over the frosty forest.

[scribe]

*googles*

Ooh that is an extremely cool bird!!

[luzula]

It is! The peacocks of the north, kind of.

[chestnut_pod]

I just read an article about the capercaillie! Cool to hear about your Very Serious Birding expedition, which I've never yet managed. Sleep well!

[luzula]

Ha ha, yes, I guess it was some Very Serious Birding--and I don't even consider myself much of a birdwatcher. I think I would never have got the idea if I hadn't known the guide.

I slept for ten hours, it was very nice!

[seascribble]

Do the lekking. I'm sorry you did not see more of their shenanigans. What an intricate ritual for everyone involved!

[luzula]

Yeah, I guess it was an intricate ritual for the humans, too!