MA - Ruffed Grouse - 03/18

A really nice surprise this morning with a Ruffed Grouse walking across Center Road, Gill. Ruffed Grouse are quite widespread in the woodland around Gill but most often detected as a heard-only when the males are 'drumming' from deep inside woods. Actual sightings are much less frequent, usually birds accidentally flushed from the undergrowth. Views like this are pretty scarce in my experience, and I really enjoyed watching this bird etched against the snow.

 Ruffed Grouse - Center Road, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 18th, 2014.