Attacked by a blue grouse + mountain goats

[shanevg]

Well, I have to admit this is a first for me.  Today I was out looking for some critters to photograph/film with Timber and we found this blue grouse chick alongside the road. 



I was able to get some good video footage and photos of the chick.

Mount Baker Wilderness - Blue Grouse chick hiding in the rocks

While I was laying on the ground photographing the chick I suddenly realized that the one chick hiding in the rocks was actually 5+ that I hadn't even seen.  One jumped and all of them barreled into the woods chirping away.  Another thing i had missed was the mother grouse hiding in a bush about 12 inches from my head.  The mother barreled out of the brush at me and ran straight for my face hitting me right in the face.  I tried jumping up from a prone position only to stumble backwards down the road and fall flat on my back.  I have the scrapes and bruises to show for it.  Even better I had my shutter pressed down taking pictures of the chick as the mom attacked and got two pictures of her charging me.  It really was quite the experience.





We also found some mountain goats that I was able to get some good footage of:

Independence Day 2012 - Mount Baker Wilderness - herd of mountain goats feeding through meadow

Independence Day 2012 - Mount Baker Wilderness - 2 baby mountain goats barrel through meadow

I have no idea what caused the 2 nannies with young kids to come barreling through the meadow but it was interesting to see and catch on video.

Also, a picture of Timber taking some pictures...  Gotta love the 4th of July!

[runamuk]

It is simple really goats and grouse are evil   

really cool pics thanks for sharing

[wraithen]

My cheeks and sides hurt and I'm shedding tears. That's an awesome story! 

[ellensburgpo]

I almost feel bad for laughing at you getting hurt...but that's not stopping me. Probably good I didn't see it as I would have died laughing. And by the way those are terrific photos.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

We were in idaho a few weeks.ago and had a grouse do the same thing. It was hissin and a flapin! The wife went the other way as i fumbled the video camera out to get it on video!  Fun times! Thanks for sharin.

[MikeWalking]

Years back I was way, way up the Middle Fork Rd of the Snoqualmie, well past where you can go now.  Rolling about 8mph back down the road, windows down enjoying the scenery.  All of a sudden something is slapping the %#@%&$ outta my face. I stomped on the brakes and threw my arms up, feathers were all I saw.  I looked out and there's a grouse a few feet off the road looking at me like you want some more of this?

I started again just coasting along and it ran alongside for about 30 yards staring at me...

[shanevg]

Years back I was way, way up the Middle Fork Rd of the Snoqualmie, well past where you can go now.  Rolling about 8mph back down the road, windows down enjoying the scenery.  All of a sudden something is slapping the %#@%&$ outta my face. I stomped on the brakes and threw my arms up, feathers were all I saw.  I looked out and there's a grouse a few feet off the road looking at me like you want some more of this?

I started again just coasting along and it ran alongside for about 30 yards staring at me...

 

She actually did circle our car a few times on the way in, but I wasn't thinking about that on the way out when I was laying on the ground.  Luckily, our windows weren't open. 

[ShaneTyTrey]

Very, very cool, thanks for sharing.

[dreamingbig]

Too funny.  Watch out for those grouse!  Maybe you can get some payback in September.

[fvh40]

Thanks for sharing, so funny.

[3nails]

 Funny! I know right where that is.