Willow Ptarmigan

Beautiful image Tim! Congrats.

Definitely one of the nicer ptarmigans I have seen. Exposure is right on, very clean simple look..as a preference..I think it would have more impact if the Ptarmigan was higher in the frame and the "snow lines" extending top left to bottom right were longer.

A wonderful snow ball with eyes and a beak!!
, Just wonderful!!!

Fine Image technically and artistically. I see you are in Anchorage. Are these birds nearby you then?

This is one lovely image I don't get tired of looking at. Congratulations

Gorgeous image Tim! Absolutely beautiful!!

Thanks for critques.

Peter- Yes, this was taken in the mountains on the edge of Anchorage, in Chugach State Park. I've seen ptarmiagan in all of the mountain valleys and above treeline. They're quite common. They are particularly easy to find now since they are actively calling and seeking mates. Once they start nesting and have chicks, they are very difficult to find unless you stumble upon a hen that does the broken wing act.

Awesome Tim... love snow images!!!

This is awesome Tim. How they can survive winter?

Wonderfully done. Love the contrasting textures. Like the composition as it stands.

Rich

Gorgeous image, Tim! I love the icy crystals in the snow around the bird and your exposure is marvelous. So this is what a ptarmigan looks like. I am assuming that I will have my best luck in finding these in the high alpine meadows and in September, they will be brown instead of white, right? Will have to keep my eye out for them. I do remember that there are some beautiful, broad alpine meadows at about the half-way point on the Seward Highway.

Fero- they burrow into the snow in the winter, which acts like an insulating blanket. I've seen places were 10-15 birds burrow in within a few feet of each other. In the spring they are usaully solitary or in very small flocks.

LindaY- I'm not sure which valley you're refering to- half way to Seward, maybe? That would put you in Summit Pass which would probably be a good place to look for them. That's about 60-80 minutes from Anchorage. I find them right on the edge of Anchorage so there's no point for me to drive that far. Yes, they will be brown in early Sept but their lower feathers will certainly be changing to white toward the end of Sept. Of course individual birds vary so you might see more white earlier in the season.

Tim, Summit Pass does sound right and I was refering to about halfway between Seward and Anchorage. It is a little more difficult for me to judge distances because I was on a bus and all I could do was watch the photo ops pass me be But this time...no bus I am renting a car and driving. Thanks for the info!