There are birds. And there are BIRDS. And when it comes down to it, there is one BIRD. That bird is special, it’s unique and sadly, it has the unenviable reputation of being Britain’s fastest declining species. It’s the capercaillie, or the ‘Horse of the Woods’ in Gaelic, although the one I photographed was less of a horse and more of an avian ASBO contender. Picture the scene: a normally shy and elusive species has one of its own going a bit well… mental. An overdose of testosterone turns certain male capercaillie from denizens of Scotland’s pine forests into a psychotic marauder intent on doing serious harm to anything or anybody that gets in its way. For a few days last winter, I got in its way.
Our beloved Picture Editor (who will remain nameless but if you look at the 2020V photographer page, he’s 6th from the top in the left column) told me, ‘we need something different – something to show the habitat – get in close and do wide-angle’. So while he’s sat at home with coffee and buns, I’m running the gauntlet that is the psycho-caper. Now, there is no doubt that photographing such an emblematic species at close range is a real privilege but in trying to rip my head off, this rogue capercaillie is expending energy, so I limited my time with him to 20 minutes. That meant I had to work fast – in very deep snow. So for 20 minutes he chased me, I ran off and grabbed a few shots. He chased me and I ran off. He chased me and I ran off. You get the idea? Knackered is an understatement. Shots in the bag: around 100. Cuts from that razor-sharp bill: 2. Items lost: some blood, several kilos in weight, a wide-angle lens (I got it back when the snow melted) and had I been seen alone in the forest being chased by a bird, losing a certain amount of what little credibility I hold onto.
On a serious note, capercaillie are in trouble and so is their pinewood habitat. There are lots of organisations working towards extensive forest restoration – many of them 2020VISION partners. Do consider helping not only this most enigmatic of all birds, but the other specialist species of Scotland’s northern pine forests. And remember, there might not be bears in these forests, but occasionally there’s something much scarier!
Hi, Pete.
Remarkable piece of work, once again, towards the preservation of a beautiful animal that I had (thanks to you) the privilege to photograph. I didn’t know that besides him, all that forest was also in critical condition. Keep the good work spreading the word.
A note to the journey you had… (certainly much scarier and complicated than ours) but always with a nice sense of humor
Rúben Neves
Excellent photos and entertaining writing Peter. We are all in debt to your courage in facing this angry bird!
I too know that bird thanks to Pete. Quite an aggressive personality (the bird that is)
Great pictures. Maybe there should be a “Save the Capercaillie” initiative in the sameway as the Scottish Wildcat.
Cracking stuff Pete, much appreciated.
A Few years ago I was attacked by one such rogue of the forest when he flew at me from a Scots pine.
He went for my eyes and I shielded them, his beak, like a pair of pincers, he bit right through my wax jacket.
A species to respect on all fronts!!
Crackers Peter as normal!!
Superb, and the Bird
Spectacular bird and good to hear that he’s tasted the blood of yet another photographer! One of my fondest of all my photographic memories is a sound, not a sight…the high-pitched girlish shriek (and I mean shriek) of a Danny Green when said caper attached itself to said sausage finger of aforementioned tubby photographer (for any who might be concerned I think it might have grazed his skin!). Danny, like you Pete, is of course cursed with the debilitating stubby-leg syndrome which makes the sort of athletic gazelle-like escape that us of a taller persuasion enjoy!