Black Grouse at Langdon Beck

[Ian Bond]

I've been promising myself for more years than I can remember that I would go up to Langdon Beck to see the Black Grouse lecking.

While I'm fairly confident of being able to identify a Black Grouse if I see one I was wondering if anyone could narrow the search down a little and give me the actual location or grid ref of where to see them.  Also what is the time window for seeing them; I'm assuming that they will be starting shortly.

Thanks
Ian

[DaveJ.]

I think IanF has already given the location Ian, the Langdon birds always start early,  this year it was the last week of January, (long long shot taken 16th Feb because of bad weather in January)

These birds MUST be viewed from your vehicle at all times, there is a code of practice  for this Lek somewhere, I'm way to tired to look.


Good luck Ian.

[IanF]

Ian I've sent you a PM with some details as to where I go. It's certainly worth a visit anytime but especially between now and April-May. A dawn visit is perhaps the best time to see them all together on the Lek though they can be seen through the day as well, often with much closer views away from the Lek.

The males in the photos were all taken from the car mid-April. The female in December last year.

[Ian Bond]

Got myself out of bed at 5.30 this morning to go looking for the Black Grouse.  It may be an indication of why I'm not a birder but I somehow managed to dip out on Black Grouse at Langdon Beck in Spring   .  In my defence the weather was pretty bad; heavy rain all night until just before I got there and then fog covering the higher ground.

However looking on the positive side: the place was positively infested with waders flying in all sorts of strange ways; I saw my first Meadow Pipit of the year and I chalked up around forty, 1 km square, records for moles.   

Will try again next year.

Ian