SOME HIGHLIGHTS

Outside the hide, dusk slowly settles. Suddenly, the heavy sound of beating wings breaks the silence — a capercaillie lands with a thud on its night perch. One by one, more males arrive, and as darkness falls, they gather in preparation for the morning’s display. Long before dawn, the males can already be heard outside the hide — the lek is alive with activity. As the first light of day seeps through the forest, we can begin photographing the forest dragons’ dramatic mating ritual. The males claim their territories, posturing and challenging rivals for the best spots. When a hen finally appears, cautiously stepping into the lek, the tension rises — the display reaches its peak.

The capercaillie is the true monarch of the boreal forest, and witnessing and photographing its lek is one of the great natural experiences of the North. The capercaillie is one of only four bird species in the Nordic region that perform a lek — gathering at the same spot each year to mate. The males stay at the site for several weeks, becoming increasingly active as mating time approaches. Unlike the black grouse, the capercaillie’s display can be unpredictable; even though the males remain in the same general area, the exact center of activity may shift from year to year, making the lek more challenging to photograph.

PHOTOGRAPHING THE CAPERCAILLIE LEK
The males gather at the lek site already in the evening, watching the area from the treetops. If everything remains calm and they sense no danger, the display begins sometime between 2 and 4 a.m. It usually continues until around 10 a.m., sometimes even until midday. The females arrive around 5 a.m., gathering in the territory of the most dominant male.

We enter our hides in the late afternoon, spending the night inside. As dawn approaches and the males start displaying, we wake to an unforgettable scene. The capercaillie’s display is largely acoustic — bubbling and hissing sounds fill the air. The males are alert to any unfamiliar noise, so it is essential to stay completely still and quiet inside the hide. Even small camera movements can scare them off. To minimize disturbance, all camera equipment is set up the evening before, before the males arrive at their night roosts.

THE HIDES
We use tent hides that can easily be positioned in the best photo locations. Each tent offers enough space to sleep in and allows up to three tripods to be set up simultaneously. There are nine photo openings covering almost a full 360 degrees.

There are no toilets in the hides, so participants must bring a bottle for urination. For women, we recommend using a “Travel John” urinal.

We work closely with a highly skilled local guide who scouts the lek sites in advance to ensure the best possible photo opportunities. Since capercaillie leks are more unpredictable than black grouse leks, we dedicate all our mornings to photographing the capercaillie. Capturing strong images requires both patience and time — and we visit during the very best period, the so-called “hen week,” when the females arrive and activity peaks.

If you want to experience one of Scandinavia’s greatest natural spectacles and take on the challenge of photographing the capercaillie lek, this is the photo tour for you.

You can also book extra days to photograph black grouse or additional capercaillie sessions — just mark your interest in the booking form, and we will contact you with more details.