Charles Smith and I sighted a Willow Ptarmigan at the Alvar June 2nd - a
difficult call
as the bird was only in the air a few seconds in the field near the small
parking lot by
the bluebird boxes ; a brown and white bird that we both recognized as having
the jizz
of a grouse. I'm quite familiar with Ptarmigan and Red grouse but not in a
place like
the Alvar. I had two more sightings - once when it flew again a short distance
further
into the field and lastly, when it rose momentarily and dropped back again. It
was then
that I got a very good look at its back and tail. But the locale had me stymied
as did
the large patch of white on the tail. I went to look up grouse-like birds in
the National
Geographic Bird Guide and made the call : Willow Ptarmigan. I report it now
because
I could not believe I'd seen a Willow Ptarmigan - not in that habitat. The wind
was
blowing almost at gale force and was keeping many a bird down.
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