When I checked out the forecast last night, the predicted high for Saturday on Antelope Island is 78 degrees - Antelope Island is a go!!
This is my first hike since the big fire a little over a month ago. I thought about hiking in the burned area (Sentry Trail) but I wanted a "normal" experience so White Rock is my hike.
Crossing the causeway to the island is disturbingly dry and crusty. But the fall auburn colors of the shoreline vegetation is here and it's beautiful.
Lots of gulls out this morning.
As I arrive on the island, there's a bison on the Farmington Bay shoreline grazing on the green vegetation. Hey, there's a coyote only feet from that bison!
Well that's an awesome start!
I turn right onto the island and pull-off for a better look at the bison and coyote. The coyote disappears for a bit but I finally see it and I see another tail. There's two coyotes there! Nope , there's 3 coyotes!!
Maybe it's a den area.
I continue towards the Ranch. Many bison near the northern part of the island this morning.
I interrupt a family of Chukkars crossing the road. The last 3 run back to their starting side. Then one by one they cross in front of my stopped car. They disappear into the vegetation until one pops out on a rock.
I continue down the island. There's a herd of bison under the White Rock ridge.
I reach the burn zone. It's more of a grey color now (instead of a black ). And I'm surprised to see that the orange fire retardant is still visible.
(Maybe I shouldn't because we've had no rain to wash it away or to allow new vegetation to grow over it.)
I see a car stopped ahead and I think I know what he's looking at - there's a few pronghorn to the right. They are hard to see but I see 3 of them.
I turn to the left and catch a glimpse of a deer chasing off a coyote! Very cool!
The deer has plenty of backup as I count 7 deer nearby - including a couple of fawns and a buck.
The coyote heads north along the shore.
I continue along and soon I finally find a large herd of bison and they are on the move!
A little further along and there's the other side of the large herd. I'm sure they will meet at some point today.
I make a quick stop at the Ranch and turn and back up the island.
I find pronghorn resting under a tree. Last time I was here to check out the fire aftermath, I found a herd of pronghorn under this same tree. I think this family unit has claimed it as "home"!
Continuing on, I find the coyote that got chased off by the deer. He's heading back south to the scene of the attempted crime.
But I can't find the deer.
I make my way to the White Rock Bay campground. Not many people camping last night - only two sites occupied. And in the trail parking, there are only 3 cars. Guess people didn't read about the 78 degree temps - better for me!
I start the trail in the clockwise direction. There are 2 bison in the distance.
Not many flowers (just a few mullein in bloom) but there are quite a few grasshoppers hopping/flying around.
I climb the switchbacks getting a good view of the resting bison below.
Then I start the circle loop still heading clockwise. The trail is very quiet this morning - I can only here the breeze and my footsteps.
I'm seeing fresh'sh deer or pronghorn scat so they're around somewhere and I'm searching.
I'm nearing a fence line when I see a very large buck standing behind it!
I slow down hoping not to scare him away as I get closer and I do succeed! He's still in velvet and he's a big boy!!
A couple of turns later, I see a lone pronghorn ahead.
I keep walking down the trail and getting closer to the pronghorn. I'm expecting him to run away but boy am I wrong. Instead of running or even moving away, he turns and starts walking in my direction. I stop and watch. He heads toward me and when he about 20 feet away, he turns parallel to me, stops to look at me
and walks past. So cool!
Once past, he angles towards the trail and walks away! Fantastic!
I continue along until I reach the White Rock Valley. I get a good look at the burn on/near Frary Peak
And see the burn on west side of Elephant Rock.
But the valley is untouched by fire. Yea!
I thought there would be animals in the valley but nothing.
From the ridge, I can see the water in Farmington Bay is extremely low for yet another summer.
Lots of dragonflies up here -- they look like Darners.
I take the inside trail following the curves of the hills. I see many lizards running along the trail.
The sunflowers are in bloom and there are pretty green flies/bees on them.
I finally turn north back to the trail head but have to stop for the view.
I see a couple of Shrikes on the way back.
I make my way back to my car and head home!
Bison, Pronghorn, Coyote and Deer - awesome day!
No comments:
Post a Comment