Then there were three

For years, I have enjoyed watching the occasional Ruffed Grouse forage in my yard, but aside from a hen with chicks, would only see one at a time. After all, the adult leads a solitary life, except for brief encounters during mating.

Consequently, I hadn’t expected to see two grouse together a couple of months ago. And then, yesterday, there were three foraging in my yard. It seems that young birds will sometimes gather in loose groups in the winter before mutual tolerance becomes polarized during mating season.

Although I quickly realized that there were three Ruffed Grouse foraging in my yard, I had to wait for some time before they were close enough together to appear in a single picture.

While usually moving about under the trees, on one occasion, this fetching lassie moved into the sunlight.