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Wildlife Art
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| martin
ridley -
wildlife artist
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Black
Grouse, Tetrao tetrix |
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Share in my studies
of black grouse, Tetrao tetrix - methods of observsation at a black
grouse lek. Dug into the snow I set up an observation hide at an impressive
grouse lek - view the resulting sketches and paintings. (Secret Location
- Central Highlands of Scotland.)
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Black grouse project page: |
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In late winter and spring male
black grouse congregate at traditional locations called leks, where they
compete for the females. The blackgame arrive from miles around to display
communally and fight to establish possession of the most valuable territory.
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My second afternoon was spent "digging in". Taking a spade I dug
squares of peaty vegetation out of the ground and constructed a wall around
three sides of the hide. As I removed each sodden clod the resulting holes
filled with water. |
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The
completed hide |
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Black Grouse,
Tetrao tetrix
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| Predawn
in the cold and dark |
Subsequent mornings went much better. It was pitch dark when the birds were
arriving and I needed to arrive before them. Driving along a mountain road
at 4.00am snow chains were a must for the car as there were frequent showers
and I was always the first vehicle to venture out into the overnight snowfalls.
Walking onto the moor to find my hide was no easy task if the snow had drifted
over my previous days tracks and precious time would be spent circling the
area in the dark. |
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Lekking Black
Grouse Sketches
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As these birds are a species under threat it was paramount that their normal
behaviour was not disturbed in any way, hence I was in the hide until the
birds departed of their own accord even if this was five hours later.
The weather conditions meant that the wet cloth of the hide was transformed
by ice. No longer slack and flexible the material of the hide now was frozen
solid this included the door and window fastenings. Combating the cold when
you are sitting around in these conditions is a priority in order to avoid
hypothermia.
Sitting on a low slung chair with a seat of insulating matting, I wore three
pairs of trousers, two pairs of gloves, a hat, a neck gaiter and a balaclava
and a sleeping bag over my lap. But even this didn't always stop me from
shivering.
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Lekking
Blackcock, Tetrao tetrix
Watercolour Sketch, 9 x 14 inches |
Sold |
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Since all noisy activities had to be completed before the birds were due
to arrive my first job once inside the hide was to set up my tripod and
telescope and arrange my unpacked equipment. To avoid arousing the birds'
suspicion and alarming them the barrel of the telescope was wrapped in camouflaged
cloth. As a species black grouse are a very alert and nervous bird, I saw
birds flush from the display site due to very minor disturbances like a
flight of whooper swans and a distant vehicle revving its engine. Even minor
telescope movement sometimes alerted the birds, and the lek would go quiet
until the birds were at ease again. |
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As
a wildlife artist there are enormous advantages to experiencing your subject
matter first hand. When you
start drawing from life your mind has
to answer questions you would not otherwise have asked. |
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Exhibition catalogues and invitations |
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Leave
your details in the VISITORS
BOOK to be
sent catalogues and invites
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Where to view my originals |
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Check
out my forthcoming
WILDLIFE ART
EXHIBITIONS
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Black grouse project page: |
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Martin
Ridley, 29 Toberargan Road, Pitlochry
Perthshire PH16 5HG
Telephone: International +44 7925 549 002
UK 07925 549 002
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