Heading up to Antelope Island this morning for a hike up Sentry Peak. It'll be my first time up that trail in months.
I arrive at the gate and the wind is blowing a gale - American flag is out stretched to the south!! Hmmmm, 32 degrees with a strong north wind, I don't think I'm hiking today! But I can still check out the animals. We've been cooler than normal, had over 1.25 inches of rain this week (12+ inches of snow at the ski resorts), the animals have got to be on the move.
As I cross the causeway, there are only a few gulls hanging around still. I see no shorebirds. And when I near the island, tons of Shovelers!!
I turn south to head down to the Ranch when I reach the island.
Behind the Visitor's Center, I see 2 bison.
I see another 3 bison coming down the hill after the 1st viewpoint.
There are 7 more on the west side of the street.
The next sighting is 5 bison just after Frary Peak.
Then it's a long drive before I get a glimpse of a large herd just north of Ranch.
Even though I'm not hiking, I decide to drive down the dirt road past the Ranch to the Sentry Trail head. There's another large bison herd between the Ranch and the trail head. And even more bison around Mushroom Springs. (If it wasn't windy, I wouldn't be hiking to Sentry Peak today because of them.)
I continue down to the end of the road hoping to see Antelope/Coyote/Deer but nothing.
I return to the Ranch to check on the Owls - which I have not seen the last couple of times I've been here. And today is no different. I get some consolation by seeing a beautiful bird of prey relatively up close!
I drive back north and then over to the west side of the island. There I find a find a few bison around the White Rock Campground, bunch on the south side of Bison Point and just the couple on the north side of Bison Point.
Looks like a bison only day! But, surprise, as I near the Visitor's Center, I see Pronghorn!! I pull into the south end of parking lot and watch 13 Pronghorn. They are grazing east. Awesome end to my day!
But it's not over yet. I'm about 1/2 way (6 miles) across the causeway when I shocked to see a coyote moving south along the Salt Lake side (north) side of the island!! I've seen them off the causeway before but only in the winter. He stops at what looks like some old bones and has a snack - calcium, yum!
Pretty cool! Is he an island coyote escaping or a mainland coyote returning? Hmmm.
Anyway, finished strong!
