Pure White Willow Ptarmigan In Its Winter Camouflage
Years ago I had stopped along side the road to glass the area.
After sitting there a few minutes, I realized the snow on the hillside under the willows was moving.
As I looked closer I saw that there was a flock of several hundred Willow Ptarmigan feeding on the willow buds. What gave them away was that dark beak and the black eye.
Everything else on the Ptarmigan blended in perfectly with the snow.
Wanting to get some photos of them I climbed up on top of the roadside berm.
That snow was hard packed and held my weight.
What happened when I jumped down was a big surprise, I sunk in past my waist.
Getting back out proved to be a lot of work.
Good thing was the Ptarmigan kept feeding and I did get some pretty good photos that day.
What we don’t do, to get “the shot!” ;-)
Pure White Willow Ptarmigan In Its Winter Camouflage
Years ago I had stopped along side the road to glass the area.
After sitting there a few minutes, I realized the snow on the hillside under the willows was moving.
As I looked closer I saw that there was a flock of several hundred Willow Ptarmigan feeding on the willow buds. What gave them away was that dark beak and the black eye.
Everything else on the Ptarmigan blended in perfectly with the snow.
Wanting to get some photos of them I climbed up on top of the roadside berm.
That snow was hard packed and held my weight.
What happened when I jumped down was a big surprise, I sunk in past my waist.
Getting back out proved to be a lot of work.
Good thing was the Ptarmigan kept feeding and I did get some pretty good photos that day.
What we don’t do, to get “the shot!” ;-)