Ptamigan Sighting Cedar Breaks + Other Birds on Markagunt Plateau

[MHW <pooder at xmission dot com>]

I returned yesterday from a week in the Navajo Lake area, on the 
Markagunt Plateau, so very peaceful and beautiful. 

My family and I visited Cedar Breaks, and while on the loop trail hike 
within the Park/Monument, I spotted one lone Ptarmigan high in a set of 
Aspen and Pine trees.  I did not get a good enough look to specifically 
identify, but it was certainly a Ptarmigan, or "Pine Hen."  It was wary 
of my presence, and had a loud, characteristic wing flap "fumph" sound, 
that I have heard other Ptarmigans make.

I also spotted various other birds in the Navajo Lake/Duck Creek/Mammoth 
Cave/Brian Head/Cedar Breaks vicinity notably including:
Mountain Blue Birds,
Osprey,
Black Vulture,
Red-Tailed Hawk,
Raven,
Chickadee,
Western Tanagers (lots of them)

Matthew.

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