PTARMIGAN IN MOTTLED PLUMAGE

I searched Coire an t-Sneachda on the flank of Cairngorm Mountain for ptarmigan after two days of heavy snow. It was late in the day when we found them, in the process of changing from winter to summer plumage. I like the blades of grass showing through the snow in this image.

F/8, 1/1,000th second, ISO 400
Accepted: Scottish 2018