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Ptrekking After Ptarmigan
Searching for Scotland’s alpine birds
Moving to Scotland has given me the opportunity to photograph a wide range of wildlife you don’t get south of the border.
One of the most interesting species to me is the rock ptarmigan, usually simply known as the ptarmigan.*
*Just like a late-night bathroom visit when you don’t want to wake your girlfriend, the ‘p’ is silent.
It’s mostly an Arctic specialist, but here in the UK you can find this chubby bird on a handful of Scottish mountains.
Ptarmigan are members of the grouse family, and while their scientific name Lagopus muta suggests they’re silent, they have a distinctive croaking call that’s often the best way of locating them.
Like some other alpine species, ptarmigan change coats based on the season. Their mottled camouflage in summer changes to almost pure white in winter, with varying stages in between.
There are a few reliable sites for ptarmigan, since they don’t move very far from their mountain homes, but there’s a catch — getting to them. These alpine avians rarely venture below around 800 m, so photographing them doubles up as a good workout.
Reaching their domain is no guarantee of success — you could easily stroll past these camouflaged critters without realising, as they tend to blend in with the rocks or the snow. But with a little patience, your odds improve.
On the Ptrail
My first recce for Pterry the Ptarmigan took me to the summit of 1,118 m Sgòr Gaoith in Glen Feshie, a beautiful part of the Cairngorms. Despite seeing several of the birds in flight, I couldn’t find any posing for a picture.
Next up was Ben Chonzie — a mere 933 m this time, but ultimately futile. While I’m no ‘Munro bagger’* this isn’t a peak I’d climb again in a hurry, lugging a lens or not.
*A term used for those seeking to climb Scotland’s Munros (mountains over 3000 feet/914.4 metres).
Third time is supposedly a charm, but strong winds forced me and my girlfriend to abort the ascent of Ben Lawers, my first (and so far, only) unsuccessful summit, before any ptarmigan appeared.
