Winter in The Cairngorms

Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Description

Taken high in the Cairngorms.  I was making my way down from the mountains after photographing ptarmigan when I came across this red grouse taking shelter from the spin drift.  It clearly had been sheltering behind the boulder for sometime as the feathers on it’s head were covered in ice.  But it was not prepared to move further down the mountain to get respite from the cold wind.   By keeping a respectful distance the bird was not at all bother by me and would just occasionally look about to keep an eye on predators.