Ruffed Grouse do that a lot. They actually dive in the snow for warmth and protection, and are likely to fly out explosively if disturbed. Sometimes if you dig down you can see "leavings".

Cynthia Crawford

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On Sun, Feb 16, 2014 at 3:44 PM, don mccabe <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Jason Berard's excellent solution to the apple mystery brings back the Hole-In-The-Snow mystery that I stumbled upon while cross-country skiing across an open field in Norwich. A foot of fresh snow had fallen. There were no tracks anywhere,  just one small hole in the middle of the field. A vole coming up for air, I thought.
 I leaned down for a closer look. Suddenly, and explosive sound, a rush of feathers, and whatever white bird that was under the snow flew right across my face, knocking me back on my heels. No time for identification but the bird left a foot-wide crater and it was white as snow. A visiting ptarmigan?

Don

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