This rubber boa was a nice find along our way back to camp.  He was very tame and allowed everyone who wished to hold him.

On Saturday morning, we started at the bottom of the canyon and worked our way up to the road’s end.  Past the junction with Hwy 227 the road continues through nice rolling grassland and veers to the left.  Along this stretch, we picked up Burrowing Owls and Bobolink.  Heading back up Lamoille Canyon, we had Lewis’s Woodpeckers and Olive-sided Flycatchers at the first picnic area.  Yellow Warblers were conspicuous and singing.

We worked our way up the canyon, and after lunch went for a walk on the Ruby Crest Trail, getting as far as the first of the Dollar Lakes.  At the lower portion of the trail, the flowers were past their peak, but as we climbed, there were plenty of flowers to look at.  MacGillivray’s Warblers were present in good numbers. 

 Sunset at the campground.

The following morning we rolled out of camp at 3:15 and were hiking along the trail to Island Lake by 3:45.  We arrived at the lake, two miles from the road’s end parking area, while it was still quite dark.  We waited a few minutes for the sky to brighten, then began climbing above Island Lake.  Once we achieved a good vantage point several hundred feet above the lake, we stopped and scoped the ridge for well over an hour.  Two Golden Eagles were on the ridge, which may have kept the snowcocks in hiding.  Eventually, several of us climbed to the cirque just below the cliffs to the north of the lake.  I spoke with two other birders who had camped nearby and one of them thought he had seen a likely candidate in the highest grassy area above the cirque.  Dave walked through that area while the rest of us watched from below, but no snowcocks were found.

 Above Island Lake.

 Immature Gray-headed Junco.

 Monk's hood.

Kimya and I had done this hike on July 31st of last year.  There was quite a bit more snow and there had been Black Rosy-Finches on the snowfields.  We also had heard what we are almost certain were snowcocks high on the ridge.  Next time I go to the Ruby Mountains to look for snowcocks, I’ll go earlier in the season, perhaps mid-July.  I will also access the ridge above the cirque through a chute that runs northwest of the lake.  It will be a grueling climb, but it should be interesting.

 Pika.  This photo was taken last year.  We heard many, but I only had a brief look at one this year.

 Black Rosy-Finch on snowfield from last year.

After packing up, we headed south along the west side of the mountains, and crossed over to Ruby Valley via Harrison Pass.  We stopped several times looking for birds, and at one point on the east side of the pass we flushed 8 to 10 Dusky (Blue) Grouse.  They took off one by one from a huge patch of stinging nettles.

After getting set up at the South Ruby Campground, we drove a portion of the auto tour route through the marsh.  There were a lot of ducks and coots, but perhaps the highlight was the many Common Nighthawks flying over.

 Ruby Valley.

The following morning we went for a walk through the pinyon/juniper forest around the campground.  Juniper Titmouse and Black-throated Gray Warblers were numerous.  We found a single Plumbeous Vireo and many Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.  Heading to the visitor center, we got some tips on where to find Trumpeter Swans and were told about the trail to Cave Springs which takes off just south of the refuge HQ.  At the base of the cliffs were quite a few Chukars, including young birds.  The spring was flowing hard out of a crack in the rock.  It is possible to climb part of the way into the cave.  Bat guano is on some of the ledges.

 Darkling beetle at South Ruby Campground.

 Mosaic darner--not sure which species.

  Fritillary--not sure which species.

 Trumpeter Swan.

It was getting late, and we tried a few stops for Trumpeter Swans on the tour route, including along the CCC Dike where we were told to look.  We had no luck at first, but did see a few Black Terns.  We started to leave for home when we got the call on the FRS radio that the swans were found on the auto loop just east of the visitor center.  The radios worked well on this trip, both in the caravan and on the hike to Island Lake.

After the swans, we headed south through Ruby Valley, then Long Valley, to Hwy 50 and the long drive home.  The light was gorgeous and the mountains and valleys were particularly inviting on the drive home on what is known as the Loneliest Road in America (http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2033/).

Photos from last year's trip are in the "Ruby Mountains" folder here:  http://new.photos.yahoo.com/chrisconard2002/albums