Today my family and I went looking for the ptarmigans at paradise. We got there around 9:30 and headed up the golden gate trail and onto the skyline to panorama point. On the way up I ran into another birder who said he had seen the ptarmigan near the rivulets just east of the large snowfield along the skyline trail. As soon as I got to the spot I was able to spot one of the birds near the snow bank. I kept watching and eventually four adult birds came into view. they were working their way up the slope towards me and eventually I had three birds within 8 feet of my feet! a truly amazing experience. I was able to hear them call and watch them feed while I stood completely still on the trail. After searching for rosy finches on the high skyline trail (more on that later) We went back to check out the ptarmigan one last time and ran into some birders who were looking for the birds. We took them back to the spot and found the same three birds that had crossed the trail and come so close to me, on the upper side of the trail in the rivulets. A couple of minutes later we watched three more birds (all looked to be full grown adults) climbing up toward the trail from below. This made for a total of at least 6 adult birds up there today (4 males and 2 females) and possible a seventh. My other target bird for the day were the rosy finches which despite a very thorough search of the golden gate, skyline and high skyline trails, were nowhere to be found. My theory, which some of the park people agreed with, is that because it was so hot up there today the birds headed for higher ground to areas like camp muir where there are more extensive snowfields. None of the other birders I came into contact with today saw the birds either. Other birds seen today were:

Gray Jay- 8
Bald Eagle- 1
Red Tailed Hawk-2
Blue Grouse- 1
American Pipits- 7-8
Rufous Hummingbirds- 2
Oregon Juncos- many
Clark's Nutcrackers- 3
Common Ravens- 3

If people are going up to look for the birds at the rivulets don't forget to check on the uphill side too!