10.30-14.30

As you might expect at this time of year, and at midday, there were few birds around, but the insect life compensated

for that, see separate thread.

4 Buzzards rode the thermals high above the forest. 2 Chiffchaffs were still singing and a Willow Warbler collected insects

from a small tree alongside the track and seemed oblivious to my presence as I passed very close by.

2 Siskins appeared from the forest and began rooting amongst the stones beside a very dusty track, puzzling behaviour,

unless conifer seeds have fallen there. A Chaffinch had a beak full of green caterpillars, meaning he still has a family nearby.

There is an rspb hide which looks out onto the moors but you'll get better views from the road at Worlds End which is on the opposite side of the moor.

Early morning is best as the grouse disperse a bit later.

I'm hoping to go to Llandegla forest next week, any tips on best way to see the Black grouse.

sid ashton wrote:

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Nick Isherwood wrote:

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sid ashton wrote:

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Nick Isherwood wrote:

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Just wanted to point out that when we went to Llandegla and walked on the moors we stuck to the path at all times and we wouldn't have taken the path at all if it was during the lekking season. I would never dream of deliberately trudging off the footpath across the moorland to flush out lekking/ breeding birds.

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Nick I wasn't suggesting that anyone was "deliberately trudging off the footpath" in fact I referred to "indavertant disturbance of the Grouse" since it is not always recognised, to quote a fellow forum member that Blackcock usually start leking just after Christmas and continue into June at least. It's at it's height around late March, April and early May - before and after those times the females don't visit the lek much but the males still display and any disturbance is best avoided. Since in our hobby the birds always come first it would be prudent when-ever possible to view them from suitably distant locations either as Paul suggests from the hide or from the road towards Worlds End rather than walking onto the moors even on the footpaths.

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I know where you're coming from Sid. I think it would probably be prudent if some signage was put up to that effect around the area of the paths that lead off across the moors. That then may deter the odd wanderer from causing any disturbance.

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Perhaps one for the RSPB - over to you Mr Brady

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I'm in touch with the RSPB staff who organise the walks ... remeber we don't own any of the land though ...

Nick Isherwood wrote:

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sid ashton wrote:

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Nick Isherwood wrote:

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Just wanted to point out that when we went to Llandegla and walked on the moors we stuck to the path at all times and we wouldn't have taken the path at all if it was during the lekking season.

I would never dream of deliberately trudging off the footpath across the moorland to flush out lekking/ breeding birds.

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Nick I wasn't suggesting that anyone was "deliberately trudging off the footpath" in fact I referred to "indavertant disturbance of the Grouse" since it is not always recognised, to quote a fellow forum member that Blackcock usually start leking just after Christmas and continue into June at least. It's at it's height around late March, April and early May - before and after those times the females don't visit the lek much but the males still display and any disturbance is best avoided. Since in our hobby the birds always come first it would be prudent when-ever possible to view them from suitably distant locations either as Paul suggests from the hide or from the road towards Worlds End rather than walking onto the moors even on the footpaths.

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I know where you're coming from Sid. I think it would probably be prudent if some signage was put up to that effect around the area of the paths that lead off across the moors. That then may deter the odd wanderer from causing any disturbance.

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Perhaps one for the RSPB - over to you Mr Brady

sid ashton wrote:

---

Nick Isherwood wrote:

---

Just wanted to point out that when we went to Llandegla and walked on the moors we stuck to the path at all times and we wouldn't have taken the path at all if it was during the lekking season.

I would never dream of deliberately trudging off the footpath across the moorland to flush out lekking/ breeding birds.

---

Nick I wasn't suggesting that anyone was "deliberately trudging off the footpath" in fact I referred to "indavertant disturbance of the Grouse" since it is not always recognised, to quote a fellow forum member that Blackcock usually start leking just after Christmas and continue into June at least. It's at it's height around late March, April and early May - before and after those times the females don't visit the lek much but the males still display and any disturbance is best avoided. Since in our hobby the birds always come first it would be prudent when-ever possible to view them from suitably distant locations either as Paul suggests from the hide or from the road towards Worlds End rather than walking onto the moors even on the footpaths.

---

I know where you're coming from Sid. I think it would probably be prudent if some signage was put up to that effect around the area of the paths that lead off across the moors. That then may deter the odd wanderer from causing any disturbance.

Nick Isherwood wrote:

---

Just wanted to point out that when we went to Llandegla and walked on the moors we stuck to the path at all times and we wouldn't have taken the path at all if it was during the lekking season.

I would never dream of deliberately trudging off the footpath across the moorland to flush out lekking/ breeding birds.

---

Nick I wasn't suggesting that anyone was "deliberately trudging off the footpath" in fact I referred to "indavertant disturbance of the Grouse" since it is not always recognised, to quote a fellow forum member that Blackcock usually start leking just after Christmas and continue into June at least. It's at it's height around late March, April and early May - before and after those times the females don't visit the lek much but the males still display and any disturbance is best avoided. Since in our hobby the birds always come first it would be prudent when-ever possible to view them from suitably distant locations either as Paul suggests from the hide or from the road towards Worlds End rather than walking onto the moors even on the footpaths.

sid ashton wrote:

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Gary Gorner wrote:

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Decided to take Nicks advice and head for a trudge over the moors we took the path to the left of the hide and walked north.We then got our best views here of the grouse which were lecking, at least 12 on a scrape magical and a lifer for both of us .

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When Phil Owen and I were over on the moors a couple of weeks ago (see North Wales and Anglesey thread) we were chatting to the estate manager/warden and he was amazed/angry that people would actually walk onto the areas on the moors near where the Grouse are lekking with a very good chance of disturbing the birds at a critical time in the year, particularly after such a hard winter. Also intrusion onto the moors is one of the reasons that they are becoming increasingly difficult to see from the hide apparently. So a suggestion to future visitors - go early for a look from the area of the hide in the forest or better go onto the road that looks down across the moors - there are reports of leks being viewable all along that road (North Wales thread). A visit to Worlds End (Crossbills included) can then be an added bonus, no car park fee and no inadvertant disturbance of the Grouse.

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Just wanted to point out that when we went to Llandegla and walked on the moors we stuck to the path at all times and we wouldn't have taken the path at all if it was during the lekking season.

I would never dream of deliberately trudging off the footpath across the moorland to flush out lekking/ breeding birds.

sid ashton wrote:

---

Gary Gorner wrote:

---

Decided to take Nicks advice and head for a trudge over the moors we took the path to the left of the hide and walked north.We then got our best views here of the grouse which were lecking, at least 12 on a scrape magical and a lifer for both of us .

---

When Phil Owen and I were over on the moors a couple of weeks ago (see North Wales and Anglesey thread) we were chatting to the estate manager/warden and he was amazed/angry that people would actually walk onto the areas on the moors near where the Grouse are lekking with a very good chance of disturbing the birds at a critical time in the year, particularly after such a hard winter. Also intrusion onto the moors is one of the reasons that they are becoming increasingly difficult to see from the hide apparently. So a suggestion to future visitors - go early for a look from the area of the hide in the forest or better go onto the road that looks down across the moors - there are reports of leks being viewable all along that road (North Wales thread). A visit to Worlds End (Crossbills included) can then be an added bonus, no car park fee and no inadvertant disturbance of the Grouse.

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Or if you prefer the organised walk with a member of RSPB staff visit http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/forestgrouse/index.asp
I went on one last year and got several new life ticks :)

Gary Gorner wrote:

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Decided to take Nicks advice and head for a trudge over the moors we took the path to the left of the hide and walked north.We then got our best views here of the grouse which were lecking, at least 12 on a scrape magical and a lifer for both of us .

---

When Phil Owen and I were over on the moors a couple of weeks ago (see North Wales and Anglesey thread) we were chatting to the estate manager/warden and he was amazed/angry that people would actually walk onto the areas on the moors near where the Grouse are lekking with a very good chance of disturbing the birds at a critical time in the year, particularly after such a hard winter. Also intrusion onto the moors is one of the reasons that they are becoming increasingly difficult to see from the hide apparently. So a suggestion to future visitors - go early for a look from the area of the hide in the forest or better go onto the road that looks down across the moors - there are reports of leks being viewable all along that road (North Wales thread). A visit to Worlds End (Crossbills included) can then be an added bonus, no car park fee and no inadvertant disturbance of the Grouse.

26/02/11

Arrived at llandegla forest around 10.30am after sat nav got me and Vernon lost again, cant say much about the co pilot either.I suppose im a litttle to blame for the lack of research and not noting the roads needed on paper.The weather was showery and windy but the birds didnt seem to mind probably used to typical Welsh weather.
Some feeders around the visitor centre were attracting all the usual tits mainly coal tits.Be warned £3.50 car park fee but who cares when a red breed bird is on show.
we soon picked up the crosbills with excellent views and a stunning male perched right at the top of a pine 20 yards away great for digiscoping as usually theyve gone by the time ive set my stuff up.
To find the hide and viewing screen for the black grouse head up the hill behind the visitor centre and follow the black grouse signs sort of to the left. Strangely we came across a small lake that didnt even hold a mallard.
Some very nice wood carvings to be seen around the forrest also.
From the viewing screen we started to eat as we were famished the birds can wait for us for a change.Suitably filled bellies we started to scope around, there was nothing obviously showing around the scrapes.I managed to find 3 black grouse eventually but only head shots as they popped up above the heather tops.
Decided to take Nicks advice and head for a trudge over the moors we took the path to the left of the hide and walked north.We then got our best views here of the grouse which were lecking, at least 12 on a scrape magical and a lifer for both of us .Another great day out with my mate Vernon but he wont be my mate for much longer if he keeps forgetting the cakes

A great day out today with John Barber for company. We decided on Llandegla forest to see if we could see the Black Grouse. After getting there at about 10.30am we made our way through the forest from the mountain biking place to the bird hide that overlooks the moors. Unfortunately, the hide was locked (probably only open when the birds are actually lekking) and a look through the viewing screens didn't produce anything so we decided to take a short walk onto the moorland via the public footpath nearby. It wasn't long before this proved to be a good idea as upto 5 Black Grouse put in an appearance. Another lifer tick for both of us. We're definately going to pay this site another visit once lekking season is under way to try and get better views of the birds. Also, we were treated to the best views of Crossbills we'd had so far. The forest was full of them as they flew over us constantly and perched on the tops of the trees in the sun to give superb views. We were even treated to two birds landing on the ground twenty yards from us on the way back to the car. I even managed to get a few decent photo's of them too.