Subject: Ptarmigan: not a jinx bird anymore
Date: Aug 13 20:04:18 2003
From: walter nakatsukasa - alexio98 at hotmail.com



Tweets: Shirley and I decided to hike the Skyline Trail at Paradise and
were rewarded with seeing not one but two birds. The two birds were located
on the right side of the trail leading to the large snowfield and Panorama
Point. I was fortunate enough to spot the first bird and Bob Schutsky, a
Bird Trek Birder from Pennsylvania with his four clients, got it on his
spotting scope; the second bird was seen a few minutes later. The seven of
us moved as close as 30 ft and enjoyed excellent and unforgetable views.
Their plumage were nearly identical to the Nat'l Geo field guide
illustrations. The plumage of one bird was significantly brighter which
suggests a male??? The birds continued to preen and feed, oblivious to our
presence. It was a lifer (ABA and/or Washington state) for all of us.
Thank you Bob for your efforts and the very best in your quest for the
Mountain Quail in the Belfair area. We also thank the many birders for
their postings on this beautiful bird.

Aloha and good birding to all.

Shirley and Walter Nakatsukasa

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