Juan, who lives a couple of miles down the brook from Russ Gray Pond, says that two years ago he had a grouse that followed him all around his yard. Always keeping that 10-15 foot distance. It also chased cars that drove past, launching itself in flight from his driveway.

It can't be the same bird so it must be something to do with nesting . . . either that or there's something in the water on Beers Brook that drives the buggers insane.

So okay, I went back to Russ Gray Pond tonight. Dad suggested that maybe the someone had been feeding the grouse. So I took Aurora’s suggestion and came with a trouser-cuff full of bird seed . . .

I park in the pull-off, about the same location as last night, and fiddle around getting my camera gear out. The grouse wasn’t around so I started walking up the road.

When I got to the upper end of the pond, and still no grouse, I decided to shoot some photographs while I was there. So I shot geese on the pond . . .

And the sun setting on the pond . . .

And I walked back to the car. The grouse was standing next to the driver’s door. But at the same time a pick-up truck came down the road. So that dingy grouse chased the truck down the road and even FLEW after it, like it was pissed off.

I waited about five minutes and it came trotting back up the road. So I went into the woods a few feet and knelt down. It came to within 10-15 feet and just paced a semi-circle around me. It made little throaty noises at me the whole time.

I took out my packet of bird seed and flung some towards it. No interest whatsoever. So I took some more photos and walked back to the car.

Of course it followed and chased me up the road . . .

Now, if it doesn’t want food that leads me back to the nesting theory . . . but how far away will the grouse go from its nest? The length of the pond is pretty far, and last night it was within a few feet of me for a little over an hour.

I personally think it suffers a mental defect . . .

I don’t think I’ll get to go look for it again for the next couple of days, but I’ll get back if I can.

Can someone tell me if this is a grouse?

AND . . .
Why on earth would this bird follow me from where I parked my car at Russ Gray Pond pull-over, up the length of the pond as I walked the road, cross the road to follow me as I explored the stream feeding into the pond, follow me back down the road . . .

circle me once I got into the car . . .

and then chase me up the road? One of the weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced on Bear Spring . . . I swear it's the truth . . . anybody venture a guess as to why?

can anyone help me to identify these plants? found at Russ Gray Pond, 4/17/06.