As I swung the vehicle into a gateway and orientated us so everyone had a view out over the ridge in front of us one of my guests pointed something out.
We were in Scotland last Saturday on the ‘Birders Scottish Long Weekend’. A Rough legged Buzzard had been seen earlier quartering the moor distantly over the valley. Although cold it was bright and if anything moved over the ridge we would certainly be aware.
However, it was not in the distance that my guest was looking. He was gazing no further than a couple of metres from where we had parked. Sat quietly dozing among the heather was a female Red Grouse magically camouflaged to her surroundings.