Hi Tweets!

On Saturday, I decided to make a trek to Mt. Rainier (Paradise area) in hopes to find the elusive, all white grouse on snow. Being dry and little snow for the year, I decided to CARPE DIEM!!

All the roads were snow-free leading up to the visitor center!!

Under clear beautiful conditions, I started my enjoyable hike from the snow free Paradise Visitor Center and first encountered snow along the Myrtle Falls area. There was about 8 inches of snow along the first few switchbacks on the Golden Gate Trail. Up above treeline near the Skyline Trail, I had magnificent views under very windy conditions but I was not deterred.

As I made my way towards Panorama Point, I would periodically stop and scan the areas which was surprisingly free of snow. There was little snow (under a foot)and many of the rocks were still exposed from the ground.

As I carefully scanned and to my surprise, about 50 yards away I spied on a odd small 'mound' of white matter on a rock. My heart raced as I did a double look. Sure enough, I was estatic to found a PURE WHITE winter plumaged, WHITE TAILED PTARMIGAN. Even though I have seen many, seeing the snow dumpling in this beautiful plumage was like seeing a new lifer!

As I cautiously and clumsily approach closer to the bird in the crusty, snow crunching snow, it took off towards my direction and skyrocketed southward about 15 feet over my head. All I can see was the dark beady eyes and beak. Snowdust at last and white as white can be!!

After three, long unsuccessful attempts in 30 miles of snow at Mt. Rainer and Mt.Chopaka, I was finally awarded!! I will have to do again to get photos to really prove that I saw one. Awwh, the joys of birding...

I ended my trip with seeing a pair of SPRUCE GROUSE (1M:1F)and a trio of PINE GROSBEAKS (1M:2IM) near the Killian Creek area of Mt. Adams...

Good grousing,

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)