Ptarmigan - a "lifer"

After the long day's pelagic I decided that a lie-in was in order, a lazy start to the day with no pre-conceived ideas of what to do. The weather on the east coast precluded sea watching - just thick clag obscuring everything. So, as dawn broke I was warm and snug under the duvet when I glanced out the hotel room window - thick mist - that means a clear sky on the tops. A quick check on the weather forecast on the BBC website and I was into gear. All the kit loaded in record time and a hasty but large breakfast, the energy was going to be needed.

Ptarmigan have been on the top of my wanted list for some time, the only problem is my worn out knees and dodgy foot, plus of course my advancing years and just a modicum of extra weight mean that mountain climbing has not been one of my major activities. Anyway with perfect conditions I decided to give Cairn Gorm a go. Dave Slater had informed me that I could pre-purchase a "down" ticket for the funicular before I walked up and thus save my legs on the descent. I arrived at the base station just after 0800 and dropped into the Ranger station just to check up on conditions, the Head Ranger was very helpful and informed me that 70 Ptarmigan had been seen two days previous at Coire Cas. Now numbers that big are unusual  so I decided to start up without waiting for the ticket office to open. With a glorious blue sky and virtually zero wind how could I wait for an hour in the car park? So off I went. It isn't really a climb or an "ascent", more like a very steep hill walk that seems never ending. Looking back down,the mist hung over Strathspey  and the sun was warm and bright on the tops.

Silver cloaked Strathspey bathed in early morning sunshine.

Just after the first funicular station I was seriously mocked by a Red Grouse. He sat on the snow fence and poured scorn on my sweaty and puffing progress up the hill. "Go Back - Go Back - Go Back" he shouted - so I took out my camera and shot him!

On and on, with just the occasional pause, I was beginning to doubt my abilities but when I reached the start of the Coire Cas arctic trail my spirits lifted.  I was a bit puffed and I had been shedding clothing at regular intervals - time for a pause, so I sat on a rock, removed my boots for a "sock adjustment". Suddenly from out of nowhere an unmistakeable "screwdriver" call of a male Ptarmigan. Hastily putting on my boots - on the correct feet - I looked over the snow fence and found three "coveys" of Ptarmigan, neatly ten to each group.

Trails divide here

Am I Fit?? You must be joking - but Ptarmigan are a big incentive

Coire Cas trail - the Ptarmigan were to the left of the trail - some picked up grit here. Boulder field to the right behind the ski lift

Having got over the shock I worked out a strategy for getting closer, firstly getting below them so I could approach uphill, and then getting the light right for photography. Ha!
I soon realised that if you stand up they move away, sit down and they stay still. So it was revert to the "commando" style again, creeping across extremely wet heather on my belly - thank God no one else was about.

No matter what manoeuvres I made they seemed very jittery and continued to move south west into the boulder field, naturally I followed, dropping downhill again and trying to head them off. At this point I realised that a conservative estimate would be 50 plus birds, given their ability to blend in with the stones there could have been many more. Staggering!

Always moving away

 Finally I nailed a male - sat on a rock and calling for all he was worth and unconcerned by my presence. I managed to get within 10 yards but the light was now fading and the interminable misty drizzle had started. At last he got fed up with me and took flight to join his mates who by now were on the scree slopes and getting higher by the minute.

Someone was getting some easy meals though I didn't see any raptors all the time I was up there.

The boulders provide perfect cover.

Time to go, down the hill the sun was shining and after all that excitement I needed a coffee.
Just as when I came up the Red Grouse jumped onto the snow fence to bid me goodbye - same old "Go back" routine.

The easy way down - perhaps next time when the snow is on the ground.

Cairn Gorm looking up from the start of the path - covered in cloud as usual

Having recharged my batteries I visited the Abernethy Forest in search of places to be checked on our winter visit. Plenty of birds to be found but none willing to sit and pose. The Capercaillie will be hard to find without inside knowledge but I am working on that.

Over in the distance the sound of a steam train reminded me that I must keep up the tradition of photographing a "choo choo" for Kevin. I arrived at "Glenbogle" with minutes to spare before the 1545 left for Aviemore, this time pulled by E.V. Cooper, Engineer. Sorry they are not the best composed shots - no time to get a platform ticket.