Thought about putting this in "Your birding day" but decided on here instead ...
Let me start be stating that I am very much a birder first and a photographer second. However I do like taking pictures, and give illustrated talks etc. Also there are some species which are intrinsically attractive as photographic subjects - waxwings, puffins with sandeels, kingfishers ... which may be easier or harder to achieve. Lekking black grouse is at the harder end of the spectrum and one which requires a special effort.
Having had what will probably be my last big foreign trip without the family last year(Madagascar), short outings closer to home are the new reality. Last year BFs own Marcus Conway (www.ebirder.net) offered workshops to photograph lekking blackcock and one of these was to be my Christmas present from Sue. Early this year I contacted Marcus and once he had confirmation that there would be access, I booked a workshop for April 15th. He phoned me to talk through what would happen, just to make sure that I was aware of the level of suffering involved!
In the week leading up to the event I was looking anxiously at online weather forecasts for the area, but all seemed set fair. Originally I had grandiose plans for plenty of birding on Speyside as well, but these had to be curtailed somewhat due to work pressure. I left home at 3:15 on Thursday afternoon for the slow drive up to Tomintoul. First bird interest came on the drive up to the Devils' Elbow on the A93 with a red grouse close to the road. At a toilet stop at the Glenshee ski area I realised that I had left home in my everyday shoes - at least we had been having a dry spell! On the descent to Braemar a wheatear flew across the road in front of the car. In Braemar I visited the Hungry Highlander for a very generous portion of fish and chips - "other fast food outlets were NOT available"!
TBC
Rob