Yesterday, I had planned on checking three strutting grounds, all on the north side of the Ferrises. Even though we were late, grouse were busily strutting on the first. Found 50 cocks, which ties the record high for this lek, since it was first counted in 1978.

And also eight hens.

No wonder the boys were so excited. Having to many hens so late in the season is unusual, and I'm guessing the snow storms we had last week must have destroyed some early nests. So now those hens are coming around to get bred again. To try to lay another clutch.

But the second and third leks were empty. Which meant I needed to come back again, this morning.

Was a little late getting to the first lek (yesterday's second strutting ground), partly because of the wonderful sunrise, but the grouse were still active. They strut far from a faint two-track, in sage that hides a lot of the birds. Sitting in my seat with the scope, I counted 36 cocks. But standing on top of the cab of the truck, with only binocs, I could see at least 52 males out there strutting. The third highest count for this lek since I found it in 1984.

Then it's south, towards the mountains, on faint two track roads towards the next lek. With one drag race/pit stop for the heelers at a gate. Here the birds strut within a hundred meters of our road.

This lek was also busy, with at least 82 cocks, a record high since I found this site in 1996. But the birds were quiting early, with several dozen flying off five minutes after we arrived.

Fifteen minutes later, we also left. The question was, do we turn back the way we came, or head up and take the route that passes closer to the mountain. Where we might see something new, and maybe a plover or two.

You know which way we went.

I'm thinking of designating this as my flower route. Seems like I couldn't drive a mile without seeing something new. These plants are growing on wind-swept plains, where gusts come roaring down off the steep mountains, and most seem to grow in some sort of dwarf form.

Of course there were the usual dwarf bluebells,

but most of these were done blooming. Just a few in the usual spot by the gate, and in the shaded part of a draw. And the phlox were still blooming,

although there seem to be at least two species. The smaller ones are drying and shriveled, but the plants with larger blossoms seem to be just getting started.

The vetches seem to be peaking right now, the plains speckled with low clumps of purple and violet.

Mixed in are two other members of the pea family, the clovers

and the equally low-growing locoweeds.

But the season is getting late, and warmer, and now the composites are making their appearances. Including a dwarf balsamroot.

Other warmer season flowers included the paintbrushes

and violets.

A few miles after we hit the highway, after the heeler sisters had already settled down to sleep on the drive home, I pulled over to look for a benchmark by the right-of-way fence. Didn't find it, but I did find a flower I don't remember ever seeing before.

My ID book for prairie flowers says it's a "puccoon."

Really.

Neat looking plant, but I saw only the one clump. In bloom, anyway. Not sure of they're native, or if this maybe came in with a seed mixture for the highway.

Pretty, just the same.

No sandhill cranes in the wetland along the highway today (saw a pair yesterday). Did spot eight ibises trying to hide in the bulrushes, though.