Willow Ptarmigan ("Grouse") in southern Ontario (1 Viewer)

Peter C.

...just zis guy, you know?

• Jun 16, 2011

• #1

This is a less-than-once-a-century sort of event; not quite up to White-throated thingy standards, but a pretty big twitch for here.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article...-flap-when-it-stops-by-darlington-power-plant

(Note the inevitable headline cliché; I think there must be some sort of international treaty requiring these. Yawn.)

 

Larry Lade

Moderator

• Jun 16, 2011

• #2

Does anyone know if this bird was only seen on June 12th or did it stay around for some additional days? (Hopefully no one collected this bird!)

 

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'

• Jun 16, 2011

• #3

That's quite a crowd in that shot.

 

Peter C.

...just zis guy, you know?

• Jun 16, 2011

• #4

Larry Lade said:

Does anyone know if this bird was only seen on June 12th or did it stay around for some additional days? (Hopefully no one collected this bird!)

Click to expand...

Actually, I heard an interview on the radio about it last night ... it was found last Wednesday, June 8, but there are some potential previous sightings (I presume by non-birders, working at the plant) going back to March. Would make sense to me, that a bird so far out of its normal haunts, if it found some suitable habitat, would stick to the one spot.

 

Larry Lade

Moderator

• Jun 16, 2011

• #5

Is the bird still around or has it left for "parts unknown"?

 

Reuven_M

Well-known member

• Jun 16, 2011

• #6

Wish I could have gone to see it...

I'd be surprised if it moved on until the fall, but a nuclear plant isn't the sort of place that you can go anytime.

 

Peter C.

...just zis guy, you know?

• Jun 17, 2011

• #7

Larry Lade said:

Is the bird still around or has it left for "parts unknown"?

Click to expand...

Reuven_M said:

Wish I could have gone to see it...

I'd be surprised if it moved on until the fall, but a nuclear plant isn't the sort of place that you can go anytime.

Click to expand...

Reuven's probably right, Larry.

I have no news on it, however, and don't personally know anybody who's "in the loop." It has not reappeared on the local notice boards, as far as I know.

 

Larry Lade

Moderator

• Jun 17, 2011

• #8

I do not believe I have the time right now to try for it if it were still around.

I am not very good at seeing ptarmigan anyway! I have tried for the White-tailed variety out in Washington State to no avail. I have probably walking right passed them and not even known it!:-C

 

Reuven_M

Well-known member

• Jun 17, 2011

• #9

http://jeaniron.ca/2011/willowptarmigan.htm
A lot more info here