British Wildlife Photography Awards 2024

Two images - ‘Black Grouse Lekking’ and ‘Pick of the Pack’ were finalists in the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2024 and feature in BWPA Awards Book 12.

The book can be purchased at this link

Black Grouse Lekking

Every April, the North Pennine hills come alive with the cooing and rasping sound of the Black Grouse Lek. Cock birds compete for the right to mate with the female greyhen arriving before dawn, occasionally fighting, or displaying. If a greyhen visits, they all significantly step up their performance.

The spectacle makes it well worth getting up very early and sitting in a cramped tent hide.

This shot shows two cock birds during a momentary pause during a fight, feathers still flying.

Pick of the Pack

Every April, the North Pennine hills come alive with the cooing and rasping sound of the Black Grouse Lek. Cock birds compete for the right to mate with the female greyhen arriving before dawn, occasionally fighting, or displaying. If a greyhen visits, they all significantly step up their performance.

The spectacle makes it well worth getting up very early and sitting in a cramped tent hide.

This shot shows the greyhen waltzing through the lek, apparently unimpressed by the fierce battle for her attention behind her.