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<\/a><\/p>\nWestern Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)<\/p>\n By now, after a very hearty breakfast, the fog and mist had burnt off and the blue skies had returned. So next stop Slavonian Grebe. I returned to the small lake where I had found 4 birds the day before. I buried myself in the undergrowth and waited (hoped) for a bird to sail close to the shore, there had seemed a pattern to their movements. I was soon rewarded with one of the birds which did not seem to worried about my presence laid down in the damp thistles, little did he know how uncomfortable I was \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus)\n<\/p>\n \n Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus)<\/p>\n So far so good, 2 out of 3 in the bag. Next stop lunch, I had been told of a place where you could have lunch and watch Red Squirrels. This appealed to my wife as well as myself, it was on the way to our next destination , the Funicular railway. Only what specimen unfortunately, but a welcome encounter.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)<\/p>\n By now the temperature had risen to a lovely 21c when we arrived at the foot of the funicular. My wife was to ascend on the railway and I was to hike up the mountain beyond the snow line in search of Ptarmigan. I set off with my 300mm slung over my shoulder. I quickly learned that pacing yourself was the key to reaching the summit ! Eventually I reached the snow line and this was when the walk got much more difficult. In places the snow was waist deep with no way to tell as I found out several times :-), the snow was also very wet !. Finally I had got to the top but had not seen any sign of Ptarmigan. Having rested and took in the amazing views I decided to walk down in a zig-zag fashion playing the call in the hope I would cover more ground. Needless to say the walk down was much easier on the heart but certainly not easier on the knees. About a third the way down and feeling a little despondant I suddenly heard a creaking sound to the right of me. Off in the distance I could see one bird standing on a rock. As I approached I could also see a female. Eventually having fallen into several drifts I managed to get close enough to the birds as they began to march up the mountain side – I certainly was not going to follow them !<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) – female<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) – male<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n