white-tailed ptarmigan

Last fall we traveled to RMNP to try to see and photograph the white-tailed ptarmigans. We received a tip from a very knowledgeable rocky mountain national park ranger (who is also a birder) where we might find the ptarmigans. He said to hike this particular trail to the end and sit and wait-all day if we had to. I don’t know if you guys know about white-tailed ptarmigans but they BLEND! Their camouflage is some of the best in the world. The habitat was perfect for a ptarmigan-alpine area, plenty of tundra plants, buds and seeds. Binoculars at the ready, camera locked and loaded. While waiting we were entertained by the bugling elk in the valley below. The weather was cold and windy but we sat and sat and sat-checking every rock that looked like a bird-finally A ROCK MOVED. There they were, several elusive white-tailed ptarmigans. They were in there intermediate phase, changing from there mottled brown-white belly to completely white in the winter. Notice the white-feathered legs. At one point we spied some type of raptor circling overhead. When I looked back at the ptarmigans they had literally disappeared. What happened? Where did they go? They couldn’t have disappeared so fast. After the hawk flew off they suddenly reappeared. We were surrounded by these beauties. In fact we were too close to photograph some of them. When they saw the hawk they flattened down on the ground and even closed their eyes to avoid the reflection from the sun. they became rocks again. it was amazing. An experience we’ll never forget. Success. Feedback appreciated.
7d|500mm f/4L+1.4 tc|1/1250|av 6.3|iso 400|manual|PP-full frame,cs5,dpp.