Black Grouse lek photography in Kuusamo

Description

The best time to photograph lekking Black Grouse in Kuusamo is from late-March until mid-May. When spring days are getting longer in March, male Black Grouse begin their lekking. There is still plenty of snow on the ground when lekking starts, by the mid-May the snow is usually gone. In early May females usually arrive to visit the lekking grounds. At one of our lek sites in spring 2008 were more than 10 male Black Grouse displaying. The spot is situated in the middle of the trotting course. It is very open place, and the first sunlight of the day reaches the lekking birds – so we have the best possible chances to get nice photographs of Black Grouse. Other lek site is frozen small lake (like in Oulu) and this site is excellent for backlit shots! Spring 2008 there were about 10 males lekking. Black Grouse lek normally continues 3- 4 hours after sunrise.

At the Black Grouse lek we will use canvas hides and comfortable chairs or mattresses and warm sleeping bags. Hides will be put up beforehand, so when you will arrive birds have got use to them and birds will be lekking just in front of hides. There will be birds so close that it would be possible to photograph them sometimes even with a wide angle lens, but probably the most suitable lenses would be 300 mm and 70- 200 mm zoom. 500 mm lens can be used as well.

Black Grouse males arrive to the lekking ground around sunrise. To avoid disturbing the birds we need to arrive to the hides well before sunrise. Walk to the hides depends on a site, but will be average 200m. Wellingtons are needed and will be provided.

Species

Main target will be lekking male Black Grouse. There are also good chances for flight shots and shots of fighting males. Also female Black Grouse often visit the lek sites. Mating usually happens in first or second week of May. There are occasional chances to photograph Snow Buntings from the grouse hide as well.

Other bird species which can be photographable during this time of the year in Kuusamo are White-tailed Sea Eagle, Golden Eagle, Tengmalm´s Owl, Hawk Owl, Siberian Tit Siberian Jay etc. Hazel Grouse, Capercaillie and Willow Grouse are possible also. From late April there are good possibilities for Cranes, Smew, Bean Geese, Whooper Swan and several duck species.

Operation time

Black Grouse lek photography from late March until mid-May

Lenses

For shots of two lekking males 70- 200 mm or 300 mm lens is ideal, but for close up portraits 500 mm lens can be better. Converters can be used as well.

Tripod

There is no need to bring your own tripod. You can borrow tripod or ground pod from us. However, please bring your own tripod head with you. Also bean bags can be borrowed here.

Suggested itinerary for Black Grouse photography

Day 1 Arrival in Kuusamo. Meet Finnature guide at the airport. Transfer to the accommodation. Evening photography excursion for possible species, which might include some of our special owl species and elk.

Day 2- 5 Four mornings photography at Black Grouse lek. During the day there will be time to have some rest and /or do some photography locally. Other bird species which can be photographable during this time of the year in Kuusamo are White-tailed Sea Eagle, Golden Eagle, Tengmalm´s Owl, Hawk Owl, Siberian Tit, Siberian Jay Snow Bunting etc. Hazel Grouse, Capercaillie and Willow Grouse are also possible. From late April there are good possibilities for Cranes, Smew, Bean Geese, Whooper Swan and several duck species.

Day 5 After the last morning in hide there will be time to photograph other species missed earlier. Transfer to Kuusamo airport to catch your homeward flight.

Departures for Black Grouse lek in Kuusamo 2010

Price includes

Transportation Kuusamo airport – Kuusamo region - Kuusamo airport
Finnature/Kuusamo Bird Tours guide services throughout the trip
4 mornings at Black Grouse lek in two different lek sites
Daytime other photography in Kuusamo region.
Full board; breakfast, packed lunch boxes and dinner.
Accommodation in clean and comfortable double rooms in hotel/ lodge for 4 nights

Group size

Min 3 and max 5 persons.

Special conditions

Reasonable fitness is required. One need to be prepared to sit 4-5 hours in tent hide every morning. Please notice that in April and May days are long and photography days may last max 10 hours.

Methods of payment

1.If you wish to pay by credit card, please fax your credit card details to +358 8 381 914 or call to +358 45 129 4264. In this case please advise credit card number, expiry date/ year and security number (three last digits/numbers from back side of your card where your signature is)
2. Bank transfer is possible. When payment will be settled by either of the above methods, you will receive electronic Confirmation of Order by e-mail. Please take your Confirmation of order with you. Full payment to be settled after the trip.

Terms and conditions of booking

The trip should be booked latest 7 days before the trip commences. If the minimum group size requirement of 3 persons on set trip won´t be realized, the particular trip will be cancelled. You can change the trip to another one, if your provisionally booked trip won't materialize.

Flights to Kuusamo

www.finnair.com
www.blue1.fi (11th Feb - 26th April)

Accommodation in Kuusamo region

Sokos Hotel Kuusamo
Website: http://www.sokoshotels.fi/

Willa Uivelo
Villa Smew is located in southeastern Kuusamo near the Russian border about 40 km from Kuusamo centre. Here you can feel the real wilderness of the taiga forest. The annual site Iivaara for Red-flanked Bluetail is very near. The log house Willa Smew was built 80 years ago but has been partly refurbished. There are 12 beds in two separate bed rooms.

Weather in Kuusamo

Late March: Temperature can get as low as – 15 - 20 Centigrade in nights, but
daytime temperature is usually between -5 - 10 Centigrade. If there is rain, it should be snow, which looks nice in photos. There should be some snow cover on the ground.
April: Temperature can get as low as – 10 Centigrade in nights, but daytime temperature is usually between -5 - +10 Centigrade. If there is rain, it is always snow. There is lot of snow (50-80cm) on the ground in Kuusamo in April.
May: Temperature can still get as low as – 5 Centigrade in nights, but daytime temperature is usually between +5 - + 10 Centigrade. There should be some snow cover on the ground during the first/second week of May, but after that it usually melts away.

The length of the spring day at Kuusamo latitude

Sunrise and sunset in Kuusamo latitude

Clothing

Fairly warm clothing is essential. Warm hat and cloves are needed. Waterproof hiking boots are recommended. (We will provide you Wellingtons if needed and warm sleeping bag for the hide).

Some Instructions for Black Grouse Photographers

You need to be in the hide well before sunrise and remain until all the birds have left the lek site. Please notice that if the birds are disturbed from the lek site e.g. by Goshawk or photographer, they usually all fly off at the same time, but then they might also come back after a short while. Natural leaving of Black Grouse from the lek site is often when lekking has already been slow for some time and usually birds leave one by one. Then they will not come back before evening!

Please start your photography session slowly. Black Grouse arrive to the lek site around the sunrise and it is often too dark to take images anyway, so it make sense for let them come down and start their lekking properly. Sometimes they listen on ground for fairly long time (5 minutes or so) before they start their lekking. By letting them start lekking properly you have much better chances for prolonged photography with them!

Please avoid sudden movements in hide. Although birds are quite used to photographers, it is still possible to disturb their lekking by moving the lens quickly or by making too much noise.

Remember birds have ears, and if you need to communicate with your fellow photographer please whisper, never speak loudly.