Lifer on the Last Day of 2025

My husband and I went out for a drive to the river, see what Bighorn Sheep were staying the winter. We came around a corner and something flew right onto the road in front of us. He quickly stopped the truck and he said it looked like a Ptarmigan, I have never seen one before, so I had no clue. It was walking down the road towards the sun, I don't like shooting towards the sun, but the rocks all around gave interesting shadows around the Ptarmigan. I just wanted to be able to get a photo of this bird, as I had a feeling I wouldn't come across again, or maybe in a really long time. They aren't common around here, more higher altitude birds, it was such a thrill to see!