For many viewers certain visual elements come to mind when they think of Sage Grouse on a lek. For me this image has most, if not all of them.
1/800, f/6.3, ISO 2000, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
They include the following:
- at least one strutting male in a full performance pose
- one or more females looking on. Here a female, out of focus in the background, is inspecting her prospective mating partner who is her (and our) center of attention
- visual indicators of time of day. Sage Grouse always perform on the lek in early mornings and here the golden light of the rising sun is just beginning to envelope the male
- it’s usually cold when they perform and we can see frost on the ground
- sagebrush, the namesake of the bird and the critical habitat element of the species, is clearly visible in the setting
The image was taken in the early morning of March 25, 2015 as I sat on a lek in remote Wayne County, Utah and froze my butt off while I watched and photographed the spectacular performances of these grouse for almost an hour and a half. For me the experience and what I perceive as “classic” images like this one make it all worth it.
In spades.
Ron
Really spectacular shot! I like that the hen has her back to him but is still checking out his butt. 😀
Just one quick question..are you 100% sure that’s a real bird….not a pinata???
Pretty sure, Patty. But if he were a piñata he’d sure hold a lot of goodies.
This photo is just gorgeous. The male looks like he’s wearing a beautiful tux and tails.
Thanks, Susan. That dandy grouse thanks you too, for admiring his attire…
Thank you Jo Anne …for your kind words. I got a chuckle out of them (once my head went back down to size)because so often I think YOU said what I wanted to say but you daid it so much better!
LOL!! Looks like we have a mutual admiration society, Patty!! All brought about by Ron’s gorgeous photos & wonderfully informative blog!!
A brillant photograph, Ron! Thanks for freezing your butt off to make it happen.
Thank you, Dennis.
That is one handsome dude! I think if I were the lady watching, well I’d have a hard time keeping up the disinterested guise. Hubba-hubba!
It’s funny how blasé the females all seemed, Mikal. But then when you least expected it, suddenly one of them would present herself for mating. Pretty interesting.
Wow! SENSATIONAL Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Beautiful image that shows a proud Sage Grouse Ron! Yesterday I spent late afternoon looking for Gunnison Sage Grouse at a lek by Monticello, Utah. No luck. Did not see anything. My guess is (1) was not there at sunrise, (2) too late in the year for the male display ? I will try again next year, earlier, and at sunrise. Do you ever see them display at times other than sunrise?
Ed, I was just reading about the Gunnison Sage Grouse this morning. There’s not many of them around.
They actually begin displaying long before sunrise – in fact by the time the sun comes up they’re often almost finished. It was still very dark when these birds started up and most of what I could see was the bright whites of the males in the darkness. As far as I know they never display after very early morning.
Thank you Ron. I will try again this next week before sunrise. Hopefully it is not too late in the year. In this area there were 4 Ferruginous Hawks and 2 Golden Eagles… I kept wondering that the eagles might prey on the grouse. Not sure how the grouse take cover in these barren steppes.
Here again, is the perfect teaching photo…to be shared more widely than this blog..because of ALL the elements…it shows the timing, temperature, context( space, vegetation), transformation, size difference, sexual interest of the female(motivation), attitude, etc. It’s even perfect artistically…composition, focus, textures, color, balance….a real winner on all levels!!!
Thanks very much, Patty, on all counts.
Patty – I always love reading your chats w/Ron but today I had to say something directly to you. I LOVE your word usage – so beautifully descriptive. I so enjoy wildlife photos, especially Ron’s but feel so lacking in the right words to say what I feel & see. Do you write? I SO enjoy Ron’s photos but also the give & take between Ron & his followers!!
This is probably the most impressive “display” sight or photo I’ve ever seen(even beats a neighbors peacocks). As you indicate, it has ALL the elements. The transformation of that male is truly AMAZING!!! He looks almost military…ramrod straight, legs glued together, puffed up chest (I can almost see the medals!),sharply down-turned wings and, of course, the impressively fanned, spikey tail feathers…He is certainly impressive!!! I can see how Dick’s experience, and yours, would be unforgetable. I’ll remember this one….’
“I can almost see the medals!”
I enjoyed that line, Patty – very appropriate.
And you’re right, I won’t soon forget my experience on the lek, just like Dick never has…
I’m too old for anyone to be impressed with my memory, plus if it is the only camping trip we took crossing the country, birding the whole way, it is not difficult to remember, but thanks for the thought. Yes, I take notes and sketch as well when I have time. Plus, I’ve ONLY been to one Lek!
“I’m too old for anyone to be impressed with my memory”
Boy, I understand that!…
Wonderful shot, the epitome of when I visited a lek in 72′, wonderful experience that I will always remember! Thanks for bringing back the memories!
Thanks, Dick. Your memory (or your field notes) is/are amazing. Gotta wonder if your memory is bird-centric or all encompassing… Either way, I’m impressed.
Beautiful photograph! Are they more tolerant of human presence when they’re performing?
Possibly, Mark, but I don’t really know for sure because I don’t push their comfort limits. I arrived on the lek while it was still dark, didn’t leave until after the birds did (without being spooked by me) and never got out of my pickup or even started the engine to warm up.