Ptarmigan

Still catching up on holiday blips! Today I started off with the Slavonian Grebes at a small pool we'd found, it was amazing how trusting they are if you can stay still and quiet. Volcanic rock beaches are surprisingly comfortable it turns out. After breakfast and a break we headed out in search of Ptarmigan another species of birds I've heard of, but never photographed before. As we were cruising slowly along I noticed a cream blob near the top of a rock and suggested we stopped to check out what it was - Courtesy of a 600mm lens and teleconverter one of the other guests confirmed that it was indeed a Ptarmigan and so we had our opportunity. They're beautiful birds with really unusual plumage, they're in the same family as grouse and you can see the resemblance.

Extras and the Slavonian Grebe which is just stunning even in the really flat light we had to work with and lastly a Golden Plover chick because it may be the top contender for cutest baby bird ever?

Hope you had a good day.