To finish the theme of Dave Nunnallee's sighting of ptarmigan on Vancouver
Island, there are reports of White-tailed Ptarmigan on the Beaufort Range,
the east side of which is drained by the Trent and Tsable Rivers. Any
ptarmigan found in the lower Trent would logically be from that range.

My Breeding Bird Survey route is at Elsie Lake, on the lower west slopes of
the Beauforts. Most of the high elevation logging roads in that area have
long since been put to bed and are now impassible even on foot. However,
after my June BBS, I will try to find a way up onto Mt. Stubbs, Mt. Chief
Frank or Mt. Henry Spencer, the high peaks of the Beauforts (about 1500 m or
4600 ft.), to look for WTPT.

Bryan Gates, Victoria, BC
BGATES at ASSESSMENT.ENV.GOV.BC.CA
Victoria RBA (604)
592-3381