What I didn't realized as I drove across the causeway is how windy it is. Not expecting that but I'll see how things go.
So cool to watch the Ravens playfully soaring in the strong breezes as I cross the causeway.
I also see a hawk basically hovering in one spot over the causeway probably searching for a mid-morning snack. As I roll up, of course he flies!
The causeway views look different this morning basically because there are puddles and water where there is normally dry lake bed. Guess that's what happens when over an inch of rain falls -- look awesome!
I find a few Canadian Geese along the causeway. The gull numbers are slowly increasing. And I see a bunch of ducks. Can't tell what species but they look like both males and females.
I arrive on the island and head south to the Ranch. (The plan is to hike the Sentry Trail.)
It's a long lonely drive seeing only 1 lone bison along the way; he was before Frary Peak on the slope below the White Rock ridge. Lowest number of critters I think I've ever seen.
I park at the Ranch, throw a jacket on as it's only 42 degrees out and head up the dirt road towards the Sentry Trail head. Amazingly windy out, I can barely keep my hat on. The only sounds I hear are the wind and surprisingly the calls of the Larks announcing Spring is here!
By the time I get to the actual start of the trail, my ears, nose, face are a bit chilly. At that point, I decide 5.5 miles in this wind is too much; this will be just a safari day.
I head back to my car and then over to the bird area behind the Ranch. I know the Great Horned Owls should be nesting so I'm looking at every tree. As I walk, the DNR guy popped out asking if I see the owl -- my answer is no. So he came over and showed me the male. (Even his tufts are blowing in the wind.)
The female is on the nest. I ask if they know where the nest is; the answer is no but it's within the eye sight of the male owl. (Well, that really narrows it down considering their great eye sight.) Couple more months before there will be fledglings somewhere -- I'll be looking.
As I get to my car, I hear/see a Kildeer flying above and watch where he lands. I start to head closer but then he's gone.
I load back into my car and head north. Hey, there's 2 more bison for the day; they are laying down in the distance -- that's 3!!
And I see a coyote trotting south along the muddy shoreline.
I stop at the Frary Peak parking - actually thinking of heading up to Knooly Knob (short hike). Hoping it might be less windy nearer the mountains but absolutely not! It's even more windy. So I just head over to a rocky outcropping to look out over Farmington Bay.
Then I continue up the island. That lone bison, he moved up the slope a bit and is now laying down.
I pass the viewpoint and am heading around the curve scanning between the slopes to my left and downhill to the bay/causeway to my right. Not sure why I'm looking for animals here, I've only seen one once - it was a lone pronghorn - but I'm looking.
As I'm starting to scan back to the right, I see a coyote pop out right in front of the right bumper! Holy crap! I almost hit him - ugh! Never saw him on the right side. But he's unfazed and starts heading up the rocky slopes. Whew!
I head over towards Bison Point seeing a group of at least 8 pronghorn at the same spot I saw the lone male on Sunday.
I continue on to see several bison near the White Rock parking.
Definitely not the hike I was looking for but still an awesome day!
