While driving up my driveway in Strafford yesterday afternoon at about 4:30  
I observed a male Ruffed Grouse a few feet away in full courtship display, 
tail  fanned, ruff ruffed. I stopped and a second grouse, female presumably, that 
had  been observing from close by, took off. The male remained for several 
minutes,  slowly deflating, before scuffling away through the leaves.
 
It was a lovely sight, but I'm puzzled about why a courtship display would  
be happening on Halloween, albeit an unusually warm one. Any thoughts from  
listserv? Bill Shepard?



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