I was pretty much done for the morning.

As in so many other mornings this spring, the weather in town was crappy.

But I went out anyway, 'cause you never know what the weather is like in the desert.

Until you get there.

And it was fine. Overcast, yes. A couple inches of overnight snow, yes. But otherwise, a gorgeous morning. The lek that I was already two days late in checking was full of grouse.

All happily strutting. The roads were too muddy to dare much exploring, but there was one other strutting ground close to asphalt that I knew I could get to.

But by then, the snow was falling again, and grouse were wearily wandering off. I made my three counts, and then just sat back to watch and listen.

And soon had my attention diverted to the right, where a pair of feral ("wild" to some) horse studs came tromping through the sage draw.

Once through the tall sage, they paused

and then began a thundering charge

straight at the strutting grouse.

Once they had blown through the lek, scattering grouse in a cacophony of wings

they immediately slowed

and then paused again,

admiring their work. And then wandered off into the snow storm.

Presumably to see what other mischief they could get into on this fine Spring morning.