-
What's Not To Lek 2015
Sage Grouse Count is at hand. Drive up from Phoenix was uneventful; thru Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon - inspired, as everyone who wanted to get there already got there; through Salt Lake on Sunday morning - act of genius as everyone, practically, was at church and the roads were wide open. Things perked up after Monida Pass
the Tendoys were a welcome site (I'll be seing a lot of them over the next week)
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psasyzwm4d.jpg
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps78ujo5l7.jpg
getting close
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pszs0xwjar.jpg
I bid a fond farewell to I-15 and turn west; Baldy Mountain in the distance
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5wfxd8sh.jpg
set up camp and Ben shows up with both dogs this year; Kaiser, 90 lbs of German Shorthair
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psjqvylw3j.jpg
and Sal
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pstwxhqrsm.jpg
off to the leks before dawn; active, males strutting and hens watching, unfortunately everyone scattered for cover when a golden eagle appeared and that was that for the morning
mobile grouse blind
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psthfph5fn.jpg
this guy wasn't quick enough (explosion of feathers at the kill site - could have been an eagle)
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psnybcyn3p.jpg
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psaqjg9erh.jpg
more to come at some point (wi-fi is spotty on the back side of Badger Pass)
Regards,
Scott
-
6400' so Spring's a bit behind; still some color up here
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4ltvkbem.jpg
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psfngw1wq9.jpg
time to head back down the hill although I hate to leave this site
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psjyykiv0x.jpg
CC's a pretty piece of water and supposed to have some big ones; not to many folks on it today
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psqzhusdbf.jpg
the Beaver's Head
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psyu4gwsmp.jpg
closed down to the Organ so the 'bows can go about the business of procreating; about 25 in this spot, some very large
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pspcjd3nwy.jpg
back to camp for a walkabout; the eyes follow you everywhere
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0m4jbn3k.jpg
besides the park staff, just me, Thumper and friends up here
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psjwxvz2qb.jpg
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8hv6a5ho.jpg
-
-
Is Thumper a cottontail? I would have expected jack rabbits out there.
How did you like the new bridge across the river above Hoover Dam? What is it about a 1000 ft.above the water?
-
Hey Jesse;
From that pick I would say that Thumper is a Snowshoe Hare in transition back to summer foliage. Head is too large for the Easter Bunny.
Got lots of them here in Ontario where hind feet are easy to find at times.
-
Jesse,
That is a cottontail. You know, I've been coming to the part of MT for 4 years to do the counts and I've never seen a jackrabbit; tons of cottontails, a pygmy (lots of their dens), but never a jackrabbit - weird.
A few people asked me about the bridge - I never really got to enjoy the view because some idiot (won't mention the state they were from) cut me off as we approached and I was busy keeping truck and trailer from experiencing first-hand how far it was down to the river.
Regards,
Scott
-
great pics, thanks for posting
-
-
So what part of the country is that........Montana?
Sure was wrong about that bunny though, for they take on a different look in certain areas don't they......ha!
From the look of that countryside, one would really think you would see the odd Jack Rabbit, but we have the similar thing here in Ontario. Jacks were quite common back in the 60's, but urban sprawl and modern farming practices basically removed most of their prime habitat here and now I haven't really seen a Jack Rabbit in a looooooooooooooong time.
-
David,
It's in Southwest Montana. I guess the bunnies read this forum, too - I've seen a handful of jackrabbits (white tail) the past few days.
Regards,Scott