Bog Myrtle & Peat

Having had such an amazing time looking at huge numbers of black grouse in the Scottish Borders last weekend (see below), I couldn’t resist heading back for another look. Having been up at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh this afternoon (researching for a bigger project on black grouse), I thought that heading home along the “scenic route” would do no harm, and an impromptu visit was quickly arranged.

The blackcock were present in such terrific numbers last week that I drove casually out of the city this afternoon, expecting to see birds in similar quantities wandering around the verges and by the road. I was to be disappointed. Last week, more than thirty blackcock fluttered and waddled around the car. This afternoon, I saw none at all. A single red grouse cock made my heart flutter for a second, but it was quickly identified and dismissed as boring by comparison.

There was some pressure to get home, and I couldn’t exactly lurk in the laybys until blackcock appeared, but I couldn’t help feeling tremendously disappointed by the striking absence of birds. The only explanation I can come up with is that the birds use the low ground early in the morning before it starts to get busy, then retreat to the bracken covered hills when the cars and human activity become too frequent. Whatever the reason for their absence, I will be going back again regardless…