lovely to see these Ruffed Grouse in a bush
their chamouflage is wonderful
nice that they have one another for winter
the second bird was well hidden
ice crystal season has begun
this one is not super clear as it was a bit frosty on top
of the crystals
lovely in its star shape
Looking out the window, a deeply gray day and the world seems frozen.
Yet I step out and two little birds fly to me, land on my hand for nuts.
A doe wanders through the yard and gazes as me as I fill my carrier with wood for the stove.
She wanders off between the ponds, we are all aware of one another.
THEN an explosion of movement and sound appears from the far side of the pond.
A buck at high speed appears to be flying and the doe flees swiftly.
The chase is on.
Flying over fences at high speed. Then it all stops, she got away. Five minutes later, nearly the same event happens all over again, this time I had my camera out and captured this photo of the buck on the hunt. I stood still as a tree and he ignored me. He heard her movement and the chase was on. Again she escapes. A few minutes later I hear them charging through the woods. Three times….. he was quite sincere in his chase. I did not see the outcome, did she get away?
I read there are a number of reasons for a buck behaving this way. Not always the rut, sometimes due to the amount of testosterone. This was a first sighting for me.
Our frozen world is not entirely frozen for the season. Step outside and one never knows what they will experience.
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