Muir burning .....

Muir burning in Teesdale yesterday - burning off the old heather stems so that new shoots develop, to feed grouse. A period of dry weather and light winds produced good conditions for these controlled fires.

Click image to enlarge.

"Go back! Go back!"

People up here in the North East are famed for their warm welcome for visitors but red grouse could do with a bit of hospitality training - the parting shot in their alarm call when anyone encroaches on their territory sounds very much like 'go-back, go-back'


Mind you, since they're going to be shot at in a few months time I guess it's understandable....

There's another fine sound recording made in Allenheads, not far from where this rather more friendly female was photographed, here


This recording was made by Richard Dunn whose work is here on the wonderful Xeno-Canto web site.