I'm heading off to Antelope Island today to search for baby animals.
Very cloudy (and not windy yet) when I arrive. Last night's rain has left the lakes beds wet with puddles (and the lake water seems higher than normal).
Not far along the causeway, I see a pheasant lay down in the short green vegetation. I quickly stop and exit the car. I look for the pheasant and he's already off and running away but when he feels "safe", he stops again.
As I leave, he's laying down.
Lots and lots of sea gulls along the causeway.
I arrive on the island and I head south towards the Ranch.
Strange to not see any bison early on - the old bulls must be hiding today.
Finally, a lone pronghorn!
A little further along, I see something along the lake bed edge; there are 7 deer! No fawns yet (at least for these doe).
Nearing the Frary Gravesite Interpretive trail, there are bison! I pull in the parking area and start walking along the trail. Definitely baby bison in the herd! I continue along the trail hoping to get closer but the herd is moving; with each step I take towards them, they take steps moving way.
They don't like my presence so I stop and head back.
I turn back on the main road and I quickly spot a dark form to the left. I stop; it's coyote!!
His fur is all fluffed out!
That's the first coyote I've seen in quite sometime. Nice surprise!
A little further along, I see another lone pronghorn.
And then, just before the Ranch, a huge bison herd down near the shore. They're not grouped up; rather a long line. And there are little reds!
So cute!
I see one nursing.
There are 2 wildlife trucks near the animals; they must be counting the babies. (Or after what happened at Yellowstone recently, maybe they're guarding the herd.)
Time to head to the Ranch and look for some owls. Last time I was here 2 weeks ago, the owlets were hidden in their nest (a tree hollow).
I go to that tree and can't find any owls. As I'm looking around, two of the Ranch volunteers come by and find one of the semi-fluffy babies. (There are 3 babies and they are now starting to get their feathers.)
This one is high in a tree. He's alert and is watching me. He's so cute with the little horns sticking up!
My first Great Horned Owl baby!!
Mom and Dad have to be close so we search them. I find what I think is one of the parents. The owl is in the tree next to the owlet. It's hard to see because of the back lighting but do see feathers waving. The one volunteer informs me what I'm looking at is actually the other 2 owlets. Yea!
They tell me, the solo one like being on his own; and the other two together.
We walk around looking for parents but they are well hidden.
The tree with the two owlets is close to the fence so I exit the area and go around for a better view.
The one owlet is standing. He's alert and watching me. The other is taking a nap laying down.
I head off down the fence looking for Mom or Dad. Can't find either. When I arrive back at the two, the standing one is also napping. So very cute!
On the way back, the larger of the bison herd continues to move south towards the Ranch.
The one coyote has crossed the road and is now with a mate! They are heading up a hill and have stopped many times to scratch.
I stop to let a lone bison cross the road in front of me. That's the only lone bison I've seen today.
As I head to the west side of the island, I see 2 light colored animals sprinting in the distance. It's 2 pronghorn and I'm not sure what they were so frightened of.
I head up to the Bison Point for a quick look. There are no bison around White Rock Bay.
On the way down, I see a single pronghorn in the same location where I saw 2 last time I was here. Must be it "home" turf.
I pass the area where I saw the Burrowing Owl, but see no owls.
Along the causeway, I see 2 Avocets.
And a hawk on my way out!
Still no baby pronghorn but can't complain with everything I've seen.
Awesome day!
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