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

Dawn breaks on a Greater Sage-Grouse lek – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/250, ISO 1250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Four years ago today myself and my friend Ron found a Greater Sage-Grouse lek on our own. We heard the grouse calling as we were exploring new areas to find birds very early in the morning. Both of us could tell we were not visible to the birds because of a hill that was between us. After low crawling behind the hill we could see the grouse displaying in the distance. Shortly thereafter we started to make plans to go back the next morning long before dawn. We wanted to witness and photograph one of the most amazing, mesmerizing mating displays of birds in North America.

After arriving at the lek long before dawn we sat in darkness listening and watching for the grouse. At first the only thing I could see of the grouse was the white plumage on their breasts. As the sun slowly crept higher I could make out more and more of their features as they moved around on the lek. The hill behind the grouse lit up when the first golden rays touched them and by then the grouse were concentrating on a dance they have been performing for millennia.

This sweet golden light of dawn was only available for about four minutes. After that the light was lovely is wasn’t as nearly dramatic as when the light first lit up the grouse and the sagebrush steppe.

Greater Sage-Grouse males as dawn breaks on a lek – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 2500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

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.

I’m okay with taking that many images of these birds or any for that matter. Yes, I know it takes time to go through them and even more time to pick out the best and toss the rest. I’m an Army brat and I moved a lot during my childhood. I went to 18 different schools before I graduated high school and that is with the last three years being spent in one place at one school. If there was anything my nomadic life taught me it was to savor everything and everywhere I was because I knew it might be the last time I could before moving somewhere else on the planet. I use that same philosophy today so I take as many photos of the birds, wildlife, and locations as I want because I might not see them again.

I made the best of that sweet golden light of dawn.

Sparring male Greater Sage-Grouse in golden light – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/3200, ISO 6400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Watching the male Greater Sage-Grouse spar, dance, kick, twirl, nip and shove each other was fascinating. I am glad that I was so used to photographing birds when I took these images that I didn’t even need to think much at all about the settings I was using and could place all of my focus on the birds, their actions, behaviors, and displays.

Victorious male Greater Sage-Grouse on a lek – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 1600, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

That sweet golden light left all too soon and then I had great to good light until all of the grouse flew away from the lek. By the time the birds left my fingers were ice cold. I didn’t care because it was one of the most amazing mornings I have ever had in the field.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Greater Sage-Grouse photos plus facts and information about this species.

These grouse were photographed from inside of a vehicle being used as a mobile blind. The engine was off after arrival and wasn’t turned back on until the last grouse left. This lek was on the Aquarius Plateau of Utah.