What It Is Wednesday

So, to recap our puzzle pictures from Monday, here's the spruce grove near the entrance to our family property.

 

This first picture is really hard to see anything in, but it's there and presents a good contrast to the second picture where you can see something catching the light in front of the second spruce from the right. That's how I noticed that there was something going on that merited closer inspection. I saw the light reflect off something and realized what it was.

I should have reminded you that you can blow all these pictures up by clicking on them. Hmmm... Too late for the earlier clues, but you can still take advantage of the feature. 

Then, the picture above was Tuesday's clue. Zooming in was a pretty serious giveaway to some. 

Finally, here we have the reveal.

It's a male ruffed grouse displaying for a female that's very well hidden under that same second spruce from the right.

He danced and displayed for her, dipping, turning and showing off his beautiful tail feathers in the sunlight.

Then, he raised his head and fluffed out his ruff.

How could any girl resist such a magnificent specimen. Not only that, he appeared to be a very good dancer, a talent that is bound garner all kinds of admiration.

(I particularly like the feathers at the base of his tail that all look like they have tiny grouse versions of peacock-style eyes on them.)

It's always a special treat to witness something like this - it's rare and wonderful.