Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/08/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Sure thing, Doug; I was hoping you'd see that one. Glad to *help* anyway I can... ;-) The shot of the ptarmigan was taken just short of Columbine Lake, our day hike turnaround point about 6 miles NNW of Silverton, CO. Starting elevation for the hike was 9,730 feet, while the ptarmigan was located around 12,500 feet (a little below the lake itself at 12,693). Topo maps show two routes to the lake; one from Telluride that looks somewhat shorter, and the longer one (the one we took) from the Silverton side. What did we do to get so close to the bird? Nothing. We just stumbled across it by pure accident, with both parties being equally surprised. We froze and the bird froze, and nobody moved for a minute or two. Then the ptarmigan saw a bug and ate it, and I began to slowly take a series of shots, this one being the closest and last of the bunch. Truly, I was close enough to have caught it with my bare hands if I had a mind to, and it acted real friendly towards us the entire time. We also flushed a small bird off her alpine nest. Didn't see what she was, but this is her nest, if you're interested: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1ssgc/Colorado/crw_2181c_std.jpg Being the monsoon season there, figure on drenching rain occurring on a daily basis, generally between 1:00 and 4:00 pm. As you can see from the two shots before and after the ptarmigan, we had some real threatening skies during the entire climb, but the rain held off until we were safely back to the car. Regards, Mitch -----Original Message----- Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 11:57 PM Subject: Re: [Leica] Colorado photos > http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1ssgc/Colorado/index.htm Wow... I am SO overdue for a vacation, and you're not helping... can you tell me where the White-tailed Ptarmigan was? It's a species I want to photograph. Doug Herr