Scenery

[rv_bass]

Very nice, David, looks cold and quiet.  See any interesting animal tracks in the snow?

[hankster]

Looks great Dave. Quiet is good. What’s the origin of the name “Ben’s Cove”? 

[David Houck]

Only interesting animal seen today was a large bird up in a tree near the window that we didn't recognize.

And yes, quiet is good.

Have no idea who Ben was, but I'm guessing he owned all the land in this cove at some point in the distant past.

[rv_bass]

If you have a photo of the bird and want to post it or email it to me I can try to ID it. 

[David Houck]

Didn't get a picture of the bird.  At this point I'm thinking it may have been a quail.  It was brown and as big as a large chicken.

[rv_bass]

Or maybe a ruffed grouse

[lbpesq]

Our quail are much smaller than chickens.  The grouse looks cool!

Bill, tgo

[David Houck]

Yes, that looks like it; and Diana says that's it.  Thanks!

[rv_bass]

Cool.  They are pretty common, at least by me.  They roost in trees and forage on the ground.  They have an explosive take off when threatened or disturbed, which can be a bit startling when walking through a quiet woodland! 

[pauldo]

Is it the grouse that also do the chest thumping?

[cozmik_cowboy]

"Look at the grouse!  Look at the grouse!"
                                      Curly Howard

Peter

[pauldo]

"Look at the grouse!  Look at the grouse!"
                                      Curly Howard

Peter

So glad Peter is getting back to his old self!!!!   

[rv_bass]

Is it the grouse that also do the chest thumping?

Paul, the male Sage Grouse (a prairie species in the western US and Canada) does the thumping.  The male Ruffed Grouse (more of a woodland species mostly in the eastern US and across Canada) does a feather display and sort of dance as part of its courtship display.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruffed_Grouse/overview

[hankster]

There are ruffed grouse (grouces?  grice?) in Ontario that do the thumping thing. I’ve done a lot of hiking and canoeing and heard it many times. Wikipedia says:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruffed_grouse

Sage grouse do it also, for sure. Whichever one, it is the coolest thing.

[rv_bass]

Hankster/Paul, you are correct, thanks for the clarification!

https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/the-mate-attraction-display-of-the-male-ruffed-grouse/