Raicho in the mountains, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

Good eating on a raicho (basically a ptarmigan) I reckon, but unfortunately it too is off the menu in Japan, due to being a cute and treasured symbol of the mountains. So whenever we see one we exact revenge on any Japanese within earshot by exclaiming the same phrase they use when looking at horrible sea monsters at the aquarium .. "oishiiiii sou"... (It looks delicious).

Enjoy the grouse season everyone...