Articles from Janice and Cowboy John

Bird Watching for the Elusive Himalayan Partridge

When we last talked Cowboy John and I had hiked up Thomas Creek and were resting at the top, sitting on a large granite boulder no doubt left by ancient glaciers in the middle of a wide valley bounded by a granite ridge.

It’s been only the last few years that John and I have continued the hike past the waterfall through the canyon to the wide valley at the top. Tall rocky cliffs surround a valley at the top with Beaver ponds, Corn Lily and Potentilla, and scattered Whitebark Pine trees. Waterfalls tumble down sheer cliffs. This whole valley and canyon was carved out long ago by glaciers.

We hiked over the rock wall one year, hiked all day, nearly killed me, and ended up at the Lamoille Lake trail. A kind soul gave us a ride around to our car in the campground.

But this day we reached our resting rock in the top valley and settled down for a trail snack when we were startled out of our wits by a clamorous whirring explosion. A Ruffled Grouse erupted from the ground right at our feet and flew to a Whitebark. Talk about startled out of peaceful reverie. We were.

Ruffled Grouse are brownish birds of good size (normal chicken size, I guess). Bird hunters call them stupid because when they fly they don’t ever go far.

This bird didn’t either. Landed in the tree next to us. If we’d been hunting we could have gotten off an easy shot.

It’s always exciting to see wildlife, Mountain Goats, Rocky Mt. Sheep, Mule Deer, even turkeys. They're all here and pretty common.

There's one bird, though, that's here but is extremely difficult to spot. The Himalayan Partridge, or Snowcock.

Wily snowcock on top of the world.
Photographed inthe Ruby Mt by Bruce
Thompson, 6/2004. Photo compliments of:
BackPackingInTheRubyMountains.com

Here’s a picture of this pretty bird!

You can see it only here or in the Himalayas in India-Tibet. They were planted here years ago and now are permanent happy residents.

These elusive, wary creatures perch on the tips of inaccessible peaks. From those inaccessible peaks they watch hikers struggling upward to catch a glimpse.

To check off "Himalayan Partridge" on your Audubon Bird List is the ultimate, but this little bird isn't about to give that pleasure easily.

For, just as soon as the exhausted hiker gets within reach, these clever birds fly from that peak to the next in the next valley.

I'm sure it's a game they play. So far they're winning, although a few hardy persistent souls have seen them up close and personal.

I didn't see a Snowcock that day, but the Ruffled Grouse landed so close John and I watched it in the tree for some time before hiking down the trail.

Adios,
Janice

P.S. You want to see a Snowcock? If you're serious, give us a call. We'll find someone to take you!

[ Back to Articles Index ]

[ Book Your Tour Today ]

==> Return to the top <==