Took a nice hike on Easter after the morning grouse count. Beautiful country, SW Montana; it may appear a bit sparse, but if you’re willing to get a little closer to the earth, literally, it has it’s own beauty. Here’s a few pics; no internet here, so I climbed the pass and sent the wife the pics & text by phone.
Part 1
The Pioneers, off in the distance
Mt. Baldy usually dominates the skyline
from up here, pretty unassuming
and a little grim
the star of the show
pygmy rabbit den; nocturnals, and me without the I/R sensor
This is where they display and mate; kinda like a pickup bar. They tend to live where the sage is thicker; even so, it’s a pretty harsh environment and they’re tough little (actually pretty big) birds. As sparse as this terrain appears, though, I flushed a trio of gentlemen while walking a lek after the morning activities had ended and never saw them until they blew up about 50’ in front of me. As spectacular as the males are when displaying, they effectively blend in to the landscape when they don’t want to be seen, and the hens are even harder to find.
Nice pics…