Bird Photography in the Field | Red Grouse in the Scottish Highlands

I'm back in the Scottish Highlands and I'm heading out in the field to photograph red grouse on the moors.
www.espenhelland.com
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I'm originally from Norway, but I have lived in Scotland since I studied wildlife biology a long time ago. In Scotland, I’ve worked as an ecologist and occasionally still do some freelance ornithology work. I have a passion for the natural world and I believe it’s our duty to keep as much wildlife and ecosystems alive for ourselves, for future generations and for nature's own sake.
Combining my passion for wildlife with an obsession for photography has been my ultimate pursuit for the last couple of years and I’m enjoying the journey more every day.
You can connect on:
Instagram: / espenhelland
Facebook: / espenhellandphotography
Twitter: / espenhelland7
Music by Epidemicsound

[@VideoNatur]

Great footage, thanks for it!

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@annejohnson8077]

Thank you Espen, great video, so much fun to watch, looking forward to more of your bird photography. Christine.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Christine :)

[@terryroth2855]

Nice video Espen. I enjoy watching grouse. Great time of the year to find them when the family groups are still together.😀

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Terry 🙂

[@janm2473]

Real nice video, Espen. And I'm glad to see you back in Scotland. Welsh and Scottish landscapes (that music at 5:00 or so, brings a wee tear to the eye ) that you and David Griff do are outstanding, in my view. Keep up the fine work. jan

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you so much Jan, means a lot 🙏😃

[@GingerPhotographer]

Great to see you back, great video! looking forward to more weekly videos.

[@EspenHelland]

Cheers man!

[@larryligget628]

I so much enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing and I think you got some fabulous shots. Regarding the bird behavior you described-the grouse looking up in the sky and seeing a bird of prey way off in the distance-I once had an Emden goose as a pet, and it would follow me all around the farm. I learned when I saw it looking up in the sky like that, there was SOMETHING up there, and usually it was a red-tailed or red-shouldered hawk. Usually I would have to look very hard to see the raptor, but it was there. Again, great video and great photos.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Larry! Really interesting behaviours to see, we must miss so much of what's going on in nature by not understanding bahaviours and communication calls well enough. But that also makes it fun and interesting with lots to learn 🙂

[@sandramcdowell5051]

Glad to see your back . . and look forward to those weekly videos.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much for that Sandra 🙂

[@JohnFormstone]

Thanks for sharing Espen. Always enjoyable to watch. You always manage to come away with some wonderful shots, though i'm sure that's not always the case. 👍

[@EspenHelland]

Cheers John. Definitely not always the case 😅

[@GeoffCooper]

Awesome video and lovely images as always 😊 I guess the group of uncertain road-crossers were maybe this year's youngsters?

[@scriptosaurusrex]

Squ... Squa... Squak squak squak squak.

[@kennypaton7700]

Great video soooo inspiring 👏👏

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Kenny 🙂

[@deborahhammond8576]

Hi Espen, I was near Grantown in November and found a great place with grouse, dont think it was where you were. The good thing was that the banks either side of the lane were raised, so almost ideal, what ever is? My Heather was not pink😪

[@EspenHelland]

At least you have a good location, now you just have to come back at the right time of year when the heather is pink :)

[@JPLamoureuxsTravels]

Superb bud I love it up there, I’ll be up after Christmas in my new motor home visiting friends and photographing wildlife, can’t wait 😊.. glad the videos are back on the cards keeps me motivated lol 😂

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much for that! Hope you get some snow and good wildlife sightings on your visit up 🙂

[@JPLamoureuxsTravels]

Espen Helland cheers buddy I’ll keep you posted 😉🤙

[@CJamesPhoto]

Man the shots you got came out so well! great detail and colors... one thing i love about photographing them is that even on foot they are quite easy to get close to :) Oh and hopefully next time you are in Norway maybe we can make a trip out

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much James! Absolutely, I'm still quite keen on going for the musk oxen if time and money allows 👌🏻

[@CJamesPhoto]

@@EspenHelland That would definitely be awesome! lets hope for the best 😀

[@RickTOutdoorAdventure1969]

Great job fella. Gonna jump in my motor with the camera right now n see what I lcan do 👍

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂 hope you did well!

[@colincampbellphotography6719]

Hi espen fantastic shots where was it you seen them in the highlands? I stay near John o groats but struggle to find the grouse maybe not looking hard enough!

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Colin! They're all over the hills and heath in the Caingorms. Not actually sure where to go near John o groats, the SOC bird app doesn't suggest anywhere nearby either. You'll get some great migratory birds up that way though! 😃

[@soumenroychowdhuryphotogra864]

Awesome as usual. I am going tomorrow for grey francolin, Barred buttonquail and yellow-eyed babbler. :D Btw love from India

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂 that's awesome, hope you got some good photos!

[@rogermullins7877]

Welcome back to the UK Espen. Do you shoot on "Single Shot" only (It sounded as though you do). You talked of perhaps catching them taking off or landing. I doubt I could switch to Custom mode fast enough if one took off or was close to landing, so I'm pretty sure I would miss those shots !

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Roger! No, I almost always use burst mode, silent or fast, but often squeeze gently to only take one frame. I'm sure I would often miss flight shots as well, but I'd rather be prepared for that one time I get it :)

[@danieljohnston5306]

What weather cover you using? I have an airshow coming up that I’m afraid is going to be drizzly. Great video!

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Daniel! I use one that I bought for my of Tamron 150-600mm - got a link on my website if you're keen to know the exact one: www.espenhelland.com/my-photography-gear/

[@danieljohnston5306]

Espen Helland I actually found it, or one just like it and ordered it. Works great, one problem, now the weather is supposed to be nice.....I’ll take it. Lol

[@EspenHelland]

Daniel Johnston of course 😅

[@GeoffCooper]

Awesome video and lovely images as always 😊 I guess the group of uncertain road-crossers were maybe this year's youngsters?

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Geoff 😃 yeah could easily be confused youngsters 😅