More sightings have been reported of the Capercaillie in the Merryton/Lochloy/Grants Garage area in the last few days, see previous posting here.
The Gurn wonders if it may be a Black Grouse but after some research it seems very hard to be able to tell the difference. If anyone can confirm, let us know?
Thanks to Billy Milne for the top image and to James Herbertson and his mum for the bottom one.
UPDATE: Video of the bird, thanks to Veronica.
I am no expert but I would have expected a Capercaillie to be a much larger bird? It is difficullt to get any real sense of scale from the photos.
ReplyDeleteAs an amatuer and according to the bird book the main difference between the caper and black grouse would be the size. I saw a capercaillie close up near Darnaway years ago, and would say the bird in question is a caper. Also spoke to a bird man the other day who said he saw a Capercaillie coming down the railway embankment when he was parked at the lights.
ReplyDeleteBeen watching the Capercaillie in the back gardens here in Boathpark most of the day. I am sure the old Morganti land is attraction to it as there are a lot of pine trees growing there now. Little did I realise, in my suggestion of keeping this place wild, just what species could survive hereabouts.
ReplyDelete.
ReplyDeleteDoes the black grouse not have a red crown and a broader tail?
Is it perhaps the first cuckoo of spring?
ReplyDeleteThe bird is a 100% Male C..K Capercaillie It has been confirmed and checked by the (Capercaillie Life Project) Officer from Inverness and they are keeping a eye on the bird for its own protection.
ReplyDeleteThe video is conclusive evidence for any black grousers or doubters
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is a young male Caper
ReplyDeleteProbably some jiggery pokery like frozen planet and it's really filmed elsewhere
ReplyDeleteDoes this Nairn sighting mean you can buy it fresh in Sainsbury's now?
ReplyDeleteIs this the same bird that played at the Harbour Fest one year?
ReplyDeleteAbout 20 years ago there was a Capercaillie wandering about by the Kyber/Railway Bridge area. When I saw it, it was sitting up in one of the trees, it gave me a right fright as it was a very big bird and not the sort of thing you see everyday. Wonder where this one came from?
ReplyDeleteI notice on The Gurn that some are suggesting that the Caper might be a Black Grouse. It is quite easy to mix the two, but this is definitely a Caper. Size and colour of wings - and particularly the large bill are the main give aways.
ReplyDeleteWe need to handle this situation very sensitively: this is a lost and vulnerable bird and one of precious few remaining of this iconic species in The Highlands.
Pleasew don't approach it.
See a few more pictures on my blog at http://thenairnbirder.blogspot.com/