Nevada - Idaho - Wyoming - Utah Trip ~ August 6, 2019

Seeing Himalayan Snowcock pretty much requires a special trip because of its range, which is restricted to the Ruby Mountains in Nevada, plus it involves a high-altitude hike to its habitat. The recent split of the Cassia Crossbill, located a little over four hours to the north, added an additional incentive to go there. I didn't want to do the hike alone in case something happened----a twisted ankle, bear encounter, heart attack, etc. I knew that my friend, Jason Horn, had already seen the Snowcock but hadn't seen the crossbill, so I asked him if he'd be interested in going along. He was willing to go as long as we also tried for "Franklin's" Grouse. I hadn't seen the grouse either, so it was real easy decision. Since all three birds are usually not that easy to find, I allotted two days for each.

At 4:00 AM on Tuesday, Jason picked me up and we headed for the Newark Airport. We boarded our non-stop flight to Salt Lake City, Utah, but wasted an hour-and-a-half at the Dollar rental car area waiting for a car because their entire fleet of cars was out on the road. Finally in our car, we made the 4-1/2 hour drive west to the parking lot at the end of the road in Lamoille Canyon in the Ruby Mountains, arriving in the late afternoon.

The Ruby Mountains

Lamoille Canyon

Our hike up the Island Lake Trail to just above the lake took about 1-1/2 hours. We climbed from about 8800 feet up to just below 10,000 feet. Many different kinds of wildflowers lined the hillsides.

Views along the Island Lake Trail

Island Lake

From there, we scanned "the bowl", cliff faces, and peaks that reached over 11,000 feet for the Himalayan Snowcock. They are so well camouflaged that you're basically looking for a rock that moves.

Himalayan Snowcock habitat

It wasn't long at all before Jason spotted one standing at the very top of the cliff. It wasn't the greatest look, because it was distant and mostly backlit, but there was no doubt it was the bird.

Himalayan Snowcock

Later, I saw two together at the top of another nearby peak. Other birds seen near Island Lake and along the trail included Broad-tailed and Rufous Hummingbird, Western Wood-Pewee, Clark's Nutcracker, Rock Wren, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, MacGillivray's and "Audubon's" Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, White-crowned and Brewer's Sparrow, "Gray-headed" Junco, Black Rosy-Finch, Cassin's Finch, and Pine Siskin. On the way down, the setting sun lit up the peaks.

We made it back down to the car at dusk and headed for the Motel 6 in Elko.

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