A few photos for this Feathers on Friday. Sharp-tailed Grouse from the lek! They were very tolerant of the blind, coming within ten feet of us, so though the day was overcast, I managed to extract some nice photos. The males would hold their wings out, turn in a circle and stamp their feet very quickly while popping their purple air sacs.
I’d seen Sharp-tailed Grouse once before, but that was distant, and of course, the males weren’t displaying, so this was quite an experiance. We had to be settled in the blind an hour beforee sunrise, which meant a 3:30 start from our hotel (it would have been 1:00 AM from home).
The females were in short supply, and were constantly being chased around by hopeful males.
All in all, a brilliant way to spend Mothers Day!
Great photos, again. This was a special experience for you and your Dad.
Overcast days are usually great for photography because you don’t have to worry about harsh shadows. I love the faceoff picture! They’re a remarkable-looking bird, aren’t they? Well done.