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 Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2008 : 9:18 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by AcesHigh
It's gotta be a ruffed grouse then... Unsure about the Cat Scat & tracks.
This ruffed grouse was dumb enough to let us walk right up to it, and its babies.
I found something interesting about ruffed grouse:
http://www.mnh.si.edu/lewisandclark/popup.cfm?type=species&id=794
cool how their claws are special for walking on snow.
You were right the first time. The yellow brough above the eye identifies it as a female Blue Grouse. They are the stupid ones. Ruffed grouse are spooked quite easy and make an explosive noise when they flush. Rather startling. |
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canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6773 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2008 : 9:42 PM
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Really,a Blue grouse? I thought they were the uncommon ones?
When I lived in the Kootenays I always looked for them,but never seen one.Are they common here? |
Edited by - Aqua Terra on 07/24/2008 9:51 PM |
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Hope, BC
Canada
7098 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2008 : 10:36 PM
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Amazing discovery Wally, thank you for verifying.
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
1005 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2008 : 10:40 PM
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The grouse is a Blue Grouse...except the Blue Grouse has now been divided into 2 species through DNA testing. They were formerly subspecies, known as the Sooty(Coastal) Grouse, and the Dusky(Rockies)Grouse under the Blue Grouse heading. For example,now if you see a Blue Grouse in the Okanagan it would could be counted as a Dusky and on Cheam it would be the Sooty Grouse...full species on their own as of about 2 years ago. Partridges are for the most part introduced from Eurasia and none have established a population on the coast.
oh I see the wikipedi kind of says this too
The prints show claw prints...doggy! |
Edited by - EAK on 07/24/2008 10:43 PM |
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Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2008 : 11:01 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Aqua Terra
Really,a Blue grouse? I thought they were the uncommon ones?
When I lived in the Kootenays I always looked for them,but never seen one.Are they common here?
Yes, they are common here but because of the moisture you don't see the large groups (flocks), you see in the Kamloops and Okanogan areas.
That hum, hum, hum, hum, hum, sound you hear all the time well hiking are the males (Roosters), drumming for some mates, (hens).
I once walked up to a couple of feet away from one rooster by Prince George and I looked down at it on a old log laying on the ground while it looked up at me and just kept drummimg away as if I was some kind of Moose and knew I won't hurt it. |
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canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6773 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2008 : 11:06 PM
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Well Ed is quite knowledgable,I aint gonna dispute what he thinks  I do know grouse are good eatin' when one is allowed to take them down. And the pic of the Old Settler is likely the very south part of the mountain as it was was pointed out to me by someone that can run the mapwork well.I dont mind being wrong sometimes,how else would one learn  |
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Fowl photographin, animal lovin, thread trollin, dry bag humpin, canoe canoodler
Vancouver, BC
Canada
4037 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2008 : 05:03 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Aqua Terra
Could be Ptarmigan?
I think Monster can straighten this out
Well I hate to go against the grain here, but my plug is for Rock Ptarmigan too, in summer plumage. The shape of the beak and direction of white feathers disappearing on the breast make up my best guess. Tough call when their feathers are in seasonal transition.
On another note, absolutely no doubt in my mind.. that is cougar poop, although old.
Colourful TR you guys! |
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Hope, BC
Canada
7098 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2008 : 06:26 AM
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Thanks for the input folks, them prints sure were strange to see just in one spot nowhere else, and HUGE.
Maybe a big dog? Maybe not related to the scat. If they were dog, they were the biggest dog prints I ever seen.
That cougar scat was massive too. |
Edited by - AcesHigh on 07/25/2008 06:28 AM |
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Fungi Filmin', Wine Drinkin', 'Shroom Eatin', Early Risin', Deer Whisperin', Curry Cookin', Macro Maniac
Chilliwack + Osoyoos
3618 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2008 : 06:51 AM
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If you go here: (thanks to my friends at Google Images) you'll see an almost identical picture of cougar scat...
No doubt in my mind... It's absolutely from a cougar... It even passed the taste test, right Aces ??? |
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Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
6908 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2008 : 11:04 AM
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quote:
The prints show claw prints...doggy!
Exactly what I was thinking. Cats have retractable claws and generally keep them retracted when moving (unless they happen to be climbing something. )
Could be coyote. |
Edited by - BillyGoat on 07/25/2008 11:05 AM |
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Garnet Creek Exploration - July 20 2008
