grouse

Dawn Light On A Male Greater Sage-Grouse

By |2024-03-02T11:21:58-07:00March 2nd, 2024|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

If I could, I would wish that everyone, at least once in their lifetime, could visit a Greater Sage-Grouse lek while these fascinating birds are displaying.

Mating Greater Sage-Grouse On A Wild Windswept Lek

By |2023-03-16T05:36:47-06:00March 16th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

During the breeding season, male Greater Sage-Grouse gather in communal display areas known as leks to perform an elaborate courtship ritual.

My 2022 Year In Review

By |2023-11-10T04:24:07-07:00December 31st, 2022|Categories: American Kestrels, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Box Elder County, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Golden Eagles, Great Horned Owls, Horned Grebes, Morgan County, Ring-billed Gulls, Rock Wrens, Ruffed Grouse, Tundra Swans, Utah, Warbling Vireos, Wasatch Mountains, Yellow Warblers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On this last day of the year it is time for my annual 2022 Year in Review post. In some ways 2022 has been great for me and in others not so good.

Autumn Ruffed Grouse Photos

By |2023-08-19T04:29:57-06:00October 8th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Morgan County, Ruffed Grouse, Utah, Video, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

A Ruffed Grouse in the shadows of the mountain peaks to the east was my best bird on a cool autumn morning yesterday. When I spotted the grouse, I was elated.

Finding Greater Sage-Grouse Away From Their Leks

By |2023-03-16T06:30:34-06:00March 26th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Dixie National Forest, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Finding Greater Sage-Grouse away from their leks isn't easy. It takes sharp eyes, keen observation skills, plus knowing what to look for.

Two Greater Sage-Grouse Foraging On The Aquarius Plateau

By |2022-10-15T14:46:30-06:00June 2nd, 2020|Categories: Birds, Dixie National Forest, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I found these two foraging Greater Sage-Grouse high up on the Aquarius Plateau in Wayne County, Utah five years ago today.

Greater-Sage Grouse Leks In March

By |2021-03-26T10:37:43-06:00March 8th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

March is a time when my mind wanders to windswept, high country sagebrush steppes where Greater-Sage Grouse will dance, fight and court on their leks as they have done for eons.

Fall Colors In The Wasatch Mountains Plus A Male Dusky Grouse

By |2022-10-02T06:08:47-06:00September 28th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Dusky Grouse, Sky Line Drive, Bountiful Canyon, Trees, Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This morning is cloudy and gray but seven years ago today it was bright, the air was crisp and the fall colors of the Front Range of the Wasatch Mountains were in their full glory.

Dawn’s Golden Light On A Greater Sage-Grouse Lek

By |2021-03-13T11:06:50-07:00March 28th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was 21 degrees and even though my hands became numb because of the biting cold I kept taking image after image of these Greater Sage-Grouse performing their ancient mating ritual, I started well before dawn and didn't stop until the last grouse left the lek.

Before Dawn Breaks The Courtship Displays Begin On Greater Sage-Grouse Leks

By |2024-03-02T13:19:02-07:00March 18th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Each year across the western states Greater Sage-Grouse begin to fly into leks on the sagebrush steppe during late winter and early spring to perform their fascinating courtship displays well before the first sign of dawn.

Greater Sage-Grouse on a Lek – Our Public Lands – Our Legacy

By |2021-03-26T09:44:47-06:00February 21st, 2018|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One might ask what do Greater Sage-Grouse have to do with our public lands and the answer would be that more than half of all remaining habit for these large upland game birds is on our public lands in the Western U.S..

Dreaming of Greater Sage-Grouse, Sandhill Cranes and White-tailed Prairie Dogs

By |2023-03-13T08:00:26-06:00February 11th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County, White-tailed Prairie Dogs|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I'm dreaming of seeing Greater Sage-Grouse, Sandhill Cranes and White-tailed Prairie Dogs as spring warms up the sagebrush steppe.

One Frigid Morning On A Greater Sage-Grouse Lek

By |2021-03-26T07:24:14-06:00November 21st, 2016|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was 21°F one frigid morning on a Greater Sage-Grouse Lek and before dawn broke the grouse began to display on the high country sagebrush steppe in Wayne County, Utah.

Celebrating Seven Years in Utah – Photographing Birds, Wildlife and Scenery

By |2020-01-15T05:49:56-07:00July 10th, 2016|Categories: American Bison, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Daggett County, Davis County, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Kane County, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Short-eared Owls, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

My journey in life has taken me to many places and I'm glad that it brought me to Utah where I am enjoying photographing birds, wildlife and scenery. Seven years ago today.

Greater Sage-Grouse, White-tailed Prairie Dogs and the Sagebrush Steppe

By |2021-07-04T04:29:08-06:00March 2nd, 2016|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County, White-tailed Prairie Dogs|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

A short trip to look for Greater Sage-Grouse, White-tailed Prairie Dogs and the other birds and animals that call the sagebrush steppe their home.

Saving the Greater Sage-Grouse One Lek at a Time

By |2021-03-26T09:29:18-06:00December 7th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Conservation, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The recent decision to not list Greater Sage-Grouse under the Endangered Species Act is seen by some as a "good thing" and by others a "bad thing". So, perhaps we can be more productive if we start saving the Greater Sage-Grouse one lek at a time.

Greater Sage-Grouse in Wayne County, Utah

By |2023-03-15T18:29:51-06:00November 19th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Conservation, Environment, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Since the snow has started to fall in the high country of Utah I have started thinking about Greater Sage-Grouse again.

Sky Line Drive and Wasatch Mountain Journeys

By |2024-03-03T08:35:08-07:00July 16th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Dusky Grouse, Green-tailed Towhees, Moose, Sky Line Drive, Bountiful Canyon, Uinta National Forest, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I might need to go wandering up the canyons and Sky Line Drive soon just to see what birds and creatures I can find.

Greater Sage-Grouse Lek and News on Protections for the Grouse

By |2023-03-13T07:47:37-06:00May 29th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Conservation, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Two months ago today I was photographing on a Greater Sage-Grouse lek in 21°F weather in Wayne County, Utah.

Two Second Skirmish on a Greater Sage-Grouse Lek

By |2023-03-16T05:22:22-06:00April 10th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The two second Greater Sage-Grouse skirmish was over but only for a few seconds before these two males started back up again.

Greater Sage-Grouse Of Beaverhead County, Montana

By |2021-03-26T08:41:08-06:00August 8th, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Greater Sage-Grouse, Montana|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I saw and photographed my first Greater Sage-Grouse this summer in Beaverhead County, Montana while traveling through the Centennial Valley. Yay! Lifer!

Female Dusky Grouse in the Wasatch Mountain Range

By |2022-10-02T06:13:48-06:00July 22nd, 2013|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Dusky Grouse, Sky Line Drive, Bountiful Canyon, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , |

I don't see Dusky Grouse near as often as I would like to see them so I was quite happy when I saw several of them last week on my way up Skyline Drive to Bountiful Peak in northern Utah.

Dusky Grouse male – Francis Peak

By |2022-10-02T06:13:29-06:00September 29th, 2012|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Dusky Grouse, Francis Peak, Sky Line Drive, Bountiful Canyon, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Near the summit of Francis Peak, elevation 9,560 feet, I spotted this Dusky Grouse male on the edge of a gravel road with a steep drop off to the west and I was able to get a few photographs of it before we motioned to a pickup truck coming down from the summit to move forward.

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