In Skriezelân in spring it is time for the Kemphaan! The male bird has many beautiful variations during the courtship season. They then have a striking collar and ear tufts and are very diverse in color and markings. At this time The smaller females are light or dark brown and have orange legs.
Males courtship at common courtship sites ("leks"), where they perform mock fights. Various color types have different roles on the lek.
It is a gamble every year when the males gather in a group at Skriezelân. This year this gamble worked out very well. I was there on April 30 and May 9. And on both date there was a group of about 50 males. The first day there were still about the same number of females present and the second day already a lot less because the others had already moved on.
And the best part was that by noon they were getting closer and closer. They were so busy with their mock fights that they only had eyes for each other. So they got to within 25-30 meters of the lens. But even then....they are incredibly agile and spin around each other. And thus difficult to photograph. So it is waiting for the moment when one specimen positions itself so that it can be photographed.
Either way, the spectacle, colors and behavior of the ruffs is breathtakingly beautiful. So sitting back and enjoying it once in a while is mandatory!