My plan is to walk the Gravel Pit Trail (5 miles RT) today.
I arrive at the causeway and the clouds are already rolling in - that's fine with me as it will keep things a bit cooler.
Crossing the causeway, the water fowl numbers continue to build.
It's so still out, the reflections on Farmington Bay are pretty cool!
I arrive on the island and head south towards the Ranch. There two bison up on the hill directly behind the Visitor's Center. A bit farther down the road, those old Bull bison are in there "normal" spots overlooking the Bay.
As I pass the Gravel Pit access road, I may have to rethink my hike. There's a group of bison on/near the road right now.
Will have to see where they are when I return.
On the other side of the road, down the hill in the distance along the Bay is a larger herd. (This is the farthest north I've seen a large herd in months!)
Down the hill near the water basin, is a lone bison laying in the grasses along the road.
In the distance is another large herd of bison.
Continuing on, I see yet another large herd across from Frary Peak heading north.
A bit farther down the road, there's a car pulled off looking at something. As I near, I see a coyote moving north along the lake bed.
Just a tiny bit farther, is the car and he's watching a Buck.
I continue on not too much farther and see two more buck!
Oops, should have charged my camera battery last night. Good thing I still have my phone's camera - not what I want to shoot with but it's better than nothing.
I finally reach the Ranch. I don't see any animals along the dirt road so I decide to turn around and head to my trail.
On the way back, I spot at least 9 deer (all doe and a couple of young ones) on the west side of the road.
See another herd 5+ deer (females) farther down the road along the lake bed.
As I roll up on the herd near Frary Peak, I see 3 doe moving in the grasses nearer to the road. (The deer are certainly on the move today!)
I pass the lone bison still laying near the water basin. As I head up the hill, something little catches my eye. I stop. Hey, it's a Burrowing Owl!!! (I pull out my battery dead camera - and guess what? It has enough life to take one picture before dying again!!)
It's the 3rd spot on the island I've seen the owls at this year! That's cool!
I get to the Gravel Pit access road again. The bison are still there. I'm thinking they will feed themselves down to their mates in the distance but I don't trust them. Last thing I want is to return and not be able to get to my car because bison are blocking me. (It's happened before.) Guess, I'll walk part of the White Rock trail.
I continue on towards the White Rock trail on the west side.
There's a few bison in the field south of the Visitor's Center. But no Pronghorn.
I turn towards the White Rock Campground and surprise! There's a lone Pronghorn!! Awesome! He crosses the road and continues moving south.
I continue to the trail head and start off. I first check the flowers near the trail head for Western Pygmy Blue. They were here last week and they're here today!!
I continue down the left side of the trail. There's a lone bison ahead but he's far enough off the trail that I'm not worried about him.
The activity around the sun flowers is almost nothing. What a difference from last week! But there's high clouds and much less sun today.
But the dragonflies are still out. Can't catch up with any of them though.
I head up the hill and reach the circle. Since I'm not walking the whole trail today, I head to the right (south). Much different view for me as I normally head north on this portion of the trail.
I'm not hearing any birds but I am following Chukkar tracks.
I see a couple of Common Checkered Skipper along the way.
I reach White Rock Bay
and turn head east. I'm hoping to see Pronghorn on the mountains along the inner trail. But I get there and see nothing. There's nothing in the White Rock meadow either.
But I do see my one and only lizard of the day.
Time to turn around and head back.
Back at my car, I drive down past the beach and then check on the Burrowing Owl behind the Visitor's Center. I don't see him today.
Great day!
