Rock Ptarmigan @ Mt.Cheam

[afoxall]

On August 5th, 5 birders from Surrey, climbed Cheam Peak. Just beyond the saddle between Cheam and Lady Peaks- we discovered an adult female with four young Rock Ptarmigan!!

There were also two families of White-tailed Ptarmigan on the Peak.

(for further information see 'bcvanbirds')

[Gord]

Nice work!!! Not an easy find this far south in their range. They are quite strikingly different than the usual white-tails! You guys must have did a double take there! The chick looks a few days older than the white-tailed chicks I saw, but then, they grow pretty quick and it was over a week ago that I saw them.

Look forward to hearing a report of your whole trip!

[Gord]

Alright, motivated by photographic proof of what had to date only been rumours from non-birders but experienced hikers/nature lovers (I saw lots of those little chickens up there today, but also a couple of those bigger ones...) Im going to keep my eyes open while up there tomorrow!!
Hope they start to be more reliable in that area. Obviously they have a presence in the area, but possibly only in the million areas impossible or hard to get to. With chicks, I imagine they wont be romping around too far although they'll be pretty old by now.

Fingers crossed!