You know, some people who just have to come along, dark and early, even on a day when I was going to let them sleep in with the wife, still get pretty bored by counting grouse.

Fortunately they later had plenty of opportunity to drag race and snoop.

Me, it was a hectic race against the sun. Grouse tend to strut at night when there's enough moonlight, and therefore quit earlier in the morning. Fortunately, we had clouds covering the eastern sky, which seemed to convince them it was safe to stick around just a little longer. Today we ran yet another count of the desert route, and found about a hundred less cocks than last week.

The strut is starting to wind down. And I still have so many leks to check...

Besides keeping it darker and cozy for the grouse, the eastern clouds also made for a wonderful sunrise. Even if I did have only a minute or two to enjoy it.