Trip South/East/Home

[fouram]

Lots of Golden Eagles through Montana/South Dakota, as road kills of Deer became uncovered with snow melt. Through to Maryland/Pennsylvania, nothing to be seen as in a rush, but the odd Pheasant, unidentified Raptor, crows too numerous to mention. Back into Canada, nothing to report till the Prairies, lots of returning waterfall, till South Eastern Alberta, where I spotted(in early morning) lots and lots of Hungarian Partridge, and quite a few Sharptail (between Brooks and Calgary) I thought that "perhaps" I had spotted a couple of Prairie Chickens just at the detour around Portage laPrairie and a bit west. Although I was unable to get a positive ID, it is in an area where they have been spotted "rarely" over the last 30 years, sadly on a diminishing scale. If indeed it was a Gr. Prairie Chicken, then there would be a "Lech" ?-(sp)nearby there, as it was very early--close to first light, and the right time of the season for their drumming/strutting/mating rituals (which I would dearly love to see!) Nothing of note for the rest of the trip home--skeins and skeins of Snow Geese in Saskatchewan!---Al

[mac]

I think it's spelled LEK - I used to visit a Black Grouse one in Scotland many years ago and it's quite a sight to see!
Mac

[fouram]

I stand corrected, Thank You, Mac--I understand it is a derivative of the Swedish for "play"--which certainly falls within the "purview" of which these guy's are involved in to try to win a mate. The general area that I referred to, may not necessarily be the "whole truth" as these guy's are really quite endangered, so I shall call it a "sensitive sighting" and let it go at that. The Capercaille that you refer to is, as I understand it, another "threatened" species, so I envy you your sightings of this bird--especially during their "Lek" period--"hats off for your patience, Mac---Al