Hey all-

Anya Illes and I hiked Ptarmigan Ridge (near Table Mountain where
many sightings have been this year) looking for White-tailed
Ptarmigan. While we struck out on Ptarmigan, we had spectacular
looks at several groups of Sooty Grouse totaling 12 birds, along the
first mile of trail below Table Mountain. While I've heard this
species a few times, I've never seen it, and it was great to get up
close looks of so many birds. We were able to see clearly both males
and females, get looks at combs, undertails, tail tips, etc. We also
hear them chuckling and whining at each other; all three groups
vocalized a lot, although quietly. We then walked the next 2.5 miles
of Ptarmigan Ridge trail, without any galliforms, sadly. There were
good numbers of American Pipits about as well as many Savannah
Sparrows where ever there was grass. Also had a few White-crowned
Sparrows and a GOLDEN-CROWNED Sparrow - is this early for them or are
they to be expected now (or at that altitude)?

I have a question for anyone with experience with Sooty Grouse or
Ptarmigan Ridge. We were NOT anticipating seeing this species in
this location/habitat. The birds were not out on open scree or
heath, but in grass and heath close to trees, so I guess it's not
totally unusual, but the ABA bird-finding guide made no mention of
this species, and I had thought they were fairly solitary. Is this
perhaps a post-breeding dispersal up-slope to feeding areas? (The
birds were foraging on the abundant Vaccinium (blueberries), as were
we).

Also, does anyone have any tips on discriminating Ptarmigan by call
from Grouse, given that they seem to occur in somewhat close
proximity?

Thanks!

Jesse Ellis
Seattle, WA


At 3:26 PM +0000 9/10/06, vogelfreund at comcast.net wrote:
>====================
>9/10/06
>
>Whew! That was some discussion! I guess my idea that it may have
>been an Asian bird was just a cop-out on my part.
>
>I also recall that juvenile (white) Little Blue Herons in Florida
>had greenish legs. Usually I didn't pay a lot of attention to flying
>juveniles; and so I forgot about the rather dark wing tips.
>
>But the discussion was an eye opener regarding young Snowy Egrets!
>
>So let me slink away...
>
>Phil Hotlen
>Bellingham, WA
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--
Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. candidate
Neurobiology and Behavior
jme29 at cornell.edu
111 Mudd Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, 14853