An alarmed grouse in dim light is scary-looking

These days we are running with the sunrise, partially in dim light and partially under an explosion of gorgeous pink and orange.

This morning, we were still in the dark part, when I saw a little silhouette in the dim light. My headlamp caught a pair of bright yellow eyes, boring into my soul. It looked like this:


What could it possibly beeeeeeee? A little hoodoo spook? Some kid's abandoned toy, that happened to be standing in the middle of the road all creepy-like?

Nope, it was a grouse:


Apparently, when grouse are alarmed, they do this:

photo credit: http://www.arkive.org/ruffed-grouse/bonasa-umbellus/image-G136136.html

Apparently, three large dogs and a human with a glowing head are... an alarming sight.