Today is forecast to be sunny with temperatures in the mid-80s. This morning is wonderfully cool at around 60 degrees. The air is smokey haze but not to thick -- just too many fires burning in the West including one that started yesterday in Weber County in northern Utah.
Heading to Antelope Island to take my first hike in 6 weeks!! Weee! Just a short one out to Mushroom Springs - probably 1/2 mile round trip - it's a start.
I arrive on the causeway and it's sunny and smells like wild fire - much nearer to the Weber fire up here.
Tons of gulls still. Appears the Avocet numbers have dropped or they are just farther out.
Arriving on the island, I head south towards the Ranch. I don't have to go too far when I stop for two bison heading down the hill behind the Visitor's Center and crossing the street to the east side where all the old bulls seem to be hanging out the last month.
I don't mind stopping - kinda fun to watch them going about their business.
Not too many bison over on the east side yet but I do see several of them on top of a hill to the west. I'm sure they will be down later in the day.
Very quiet drive until after Frary Peak where I see a large hawk in the trees.
A bit farther down the road, I see 3 female deer not that far from the road.
And a tad farther down, I see a lone male Pronghorn very near the road too.
It's not until after the Frary Homestead do I find two large herds of bison (Moms and juveniles). They are in the distance.
I reach the Ranch and head down to the Sentry Peak parking. Time for my first "big" hike since getting the boot off on Monday. I'm really happy to start getting back out in the wild on my own 2 feet! Not very exciting but I'm seeing a few grasshoppers and dragonflies.
No flowers. :(
I reach Mushroom Springs and am disappointed to see that the Springs are dry! I know they were doing construction out here last year; perhaps they re-routed the water. I head a bit farther to a very green patch hoping there's water somewhere but no water. But I do find one of my late season favorites Rocky Mt Bee Plant!! Many bees enjoying the nectar and a butterfly - Juba Skipper!!
On my way back to my car, I see something out of place in the distance - it's a Pronghorn!
Back at my car, I head over to the Ranch to spy on the Great Horned Owls. I find the male in the same spot as last week - just enjoying the morning sun!
While I'm watching the owl, I'm being watched by a lone female deer.
I never find the other owl but I do get to talk to my DNR guy (who I haven't seen since Spring). I ask him about the dry Mushroom Springs. He says it's dried up as many of the fresh water springs have on the island -- long drought. Park did bury a large water tank last year to try and collect/store water and have installed water troughs in the back country to collect rain water for the animals -- but we haven't had much rain this summer. Tough going! Sad part is with more and more houses going up in the valley and no advocating for xero-scaping around here; there's just more water wasted trying to keep grass green in the driest state in the country instead of going into our rivers and lakes. I hope that mentality changes before it's too late for the Great Salt Lake and Farmington Bay.
Anyway, time to head north and over to check out the west side of the island. On the way back, I find a lone Pronghorn walking past one of the existing water troughs near Frary Peak.
Back near the Visitor's Center, yes the bulls have come down and are back on the east side in their usual location. And there's is another lone Pronghorn near those bison.
On the west side, I find the Burrowing Owl today. Still hoping, I'd see some young but very happy to see one of the owls.
And to close a good day, I find a few bison near the road behind the Visitor's Center.
Good day on the island!
But wait, when I get home, I find a Praying Mantis in my Purple Coneflower!
