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We made our annual trip to the sharp-tailed grouse “lek” to watch the male grouse dance and fight (basically show off so the females will pick them for mating). You have to be there at first light. The early morning sun makes the feathers glow.

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They begin by puffing up their neck and cooing.

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Then they dance spinning around in circles and stamping their feet making a one of a kind sound.

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I took this photo with the wide-angle lens right before he ran into the side of the blind in his excitement.

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Intermittently fights break out.

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It was hard to tell who was winning.

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Apparently there are no rules of engagement as this one kicked his adversary when he was down.

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After the kicking and fighting they seem to be friends again.

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The dancing lasts for about two hours before they fly away.

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The “lek” is in the middle of a hay field and several generations have been using this exact area for over 50 years.

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They dance in an area that is about 50 feet by 50 feet.

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It doesn’t matter if we set our blind right in the middle of the dancing field, they will dance all around us like we weren’t even there. Many times they came within feet of our blinds.

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