I arrive on the island around 1:30pm. The causeway is totally free of snow (yea!). Still looking very frozen on both sides of the causeway - and hazy. When I reach the open water near the bridge, there are still hundreds of Shovelers swimming around.
I continue toward the island and spot a large, dark bird sitting on one of the tall poles in the marina. Could it be a Bald Eagle?! We've had the snow and cold, perhaps they are already coming down from Idaho .... I stop ......it's a Bald Eagle!!! First one of the season!
How cool is that! Checking out those ducks for a quick morning breakfast I bet.
I continue onto the island heading south towards the Ranch. (I thought about hiking the White Rock trail today but with a snowy trail (which make the hike slower) and with the sun setting around 5pm, I don't think I'll have enough time.)
The road is snow packed or icy or clear depending where you are but definitely better than Monday.
I see a bison within the 1st mile. I stop for a look. As I get out of my car, I hear a coyote howling. Lovely sound, this could be an interesting day!
There's another bison across the road.
I continue down the road and after rounding a turn, there's a flock of Chukkars crossing the road. I stop and watch them cross and watch them walk up a little hill thru the snow.
I continue on passing the first viewpoint (probably the highest part of the road) - there's really not much of a view with the haze. As I come down the hill, there's a coyote in the big meadow below!!! I stop and get out of my car for a better look. He's a good distance away but he's know I'm there as he stops and looks my direction.
Bet he was the one howling just a few minutes ago. (Coyote #1)
Soon I arrive at the Frary Peak turnoff - there are bison here so I pull in the parking for a look. There's about 7 bison across the street grazing near the rocks. And a larger herd (25-30 animals) above up near the White Rock Trail.
Continuing on, I see a porcupine in a tree (one of two today).
I spot for a bird perched in a tree; it's a Northern Flicker.
There are several small bison herds scattered along the road.
Further down, there's a car pulled off; a clear sign a critter is around. Hey, there's Coyote #2 climbing a small hill near the road.
Somewhere past the Frary Gravesite Trail, there's a small wooden fence. As I get closer, I can see Pronghorn legs in between the posts. I drive past the fence and there's not a couple of Pronghorn; it's a super mega herd!! There's a big group and then the pronghorn continue south as far as I can see. I think the island has somewhere between 100-200 pronghorn, I'd bet they're all here. (Via photos, I count 66 at this one stop, but they continue south.)
I'm wondering if they are all here because their other feeding grounds to the south and west was burned this summer by the fire (burnt 1/2 the island). Should be interesting if they stick around all winter.
As I'm watching, a large brown bird of prey flies by.
I continue driving and reach the stop where the bison hung out all summer. And there's more pronghorn feeding here. Amazing!!
I finally reach the Ranch and head down to see if I can find the Great Horned Owls. The area was closed after the massive wind storm blew through in the summer (blew the roof off the barn and other historic building too); I'm hoping it re-opened. Nope, still closed. :(
Well, since I've seen one Bald Eagle today, might as well hike over to Mushroom Springs to see if there are any perched there (it's a spot they've liked in the past).
As I start my walk near the Ranch, there are lots of Bison tracks in the snow.
I continue down the snowy road looking for deer but see none. Instead, I find Coyote #3!!!
He soon moves off into the brush and I lose him. So I continue my walk thru the "tundra".
I reach the actual trail to Mushroom Springs and start heading west. There have been people through on snowshoes and walking but not enough to flatten the snow. As I near Mushroom Spring, I do see a dark blob in the trees.
It's a Bald Eagle!!
I reach the Springs and head towards the tree - I just follow the people tracks. What a beautiful bird! And always exciting to see!
Time to head back.
As I head back, I hear at least 2 coyotes to the West (behind me) howling and yipping. I so love that sound especially when they are going back and forth. I stop and turn hoping to see them. I don't find them but I do listen. Soon, there's another howl to the south. And the calls ping-pong between the 2 groups.
Then a coyote to the east -- probably my buddy Coyote #3 -- joins in the fun! But for some reason after he joins, the howls are silenced.
I continue along east towards the road and I see Coyote #3 in the distance.
After reaching road, I continue north back to the Ranch and my car.
As I head north on the island, I reach the nearest group of Pronghorn. They are now heading south.
But what about that first group?
Well, they are stopped near the road a few miles ahead with many cars pulled-off watching.
I think they want to cross the road but the people are making them skittish. Would love to stay and see what they finally end up doing but that could be hours. I'm moving on.
But first, there's a small herd of bison directly across from the Pronghorn on the other side of the road; it's a 2 for 1 stop!!
And before I get back in my car, a couple of coyotes start to howl. Very cool!
Soon I make a stop for a Porcupine. He's actually moving around. Probably feeding on some of that orange fruit.
Continuing down the road, I spot something under some trees; it's Coyote #4!!! As I'm watching, I hear a coyote howl in the distance and then Coyote #4 joins in!
When they stop, I continue on to Frary Peak making a stop for those bison I saw earlier near the rocks. There's a few more of them now.
Then onto the west side of the island and Bison Point. I pass a few bison on my way there. My plan is to walk up to Bison Point but when I get out of my car -- Brrrrrrrr! Same temperature but its windy and the sun is lower. Just one photo.
And I'm gone!
I head down, pass a herd of bison near the road, then turn towards the Visitor's Center. It's a good spot to kill some time while waiting for the sun to set in about 40 minutes. (And I want to see my 1st Antelope Island sunset).
Conveniently, there's a group of bison at the turn to the Visitor's Center.
I take a very very short paved trail outside the Visitor's Center for a view of the Causeway.
Then I drive to the Causeway and park near the bridge.
On the Farmington Bay side, there's a pinkish hue to the frozen lake water now due to the setting sun. The icy crystals still glistening in the fading sunlight.
I can see the mountains too!
The Salt Lake side, I'm near the open water with the ducks. But the remaining landscape is cold looking. (And I'm freezing.)
I've got some time so I decide to turn my car around and loop back around the Visitor's Center. Maybe I'll find a deer.
As I pass Bison Point, the sun has disappeared behind it. The horizon is starting to glow.
As I pass the beach area, I find those deer! Two of them. One is a doe and the other, well all I can see is its rump as they feed in the sagebrush.
I pass those bison near the Visitor Center. Can't beat the view!
Then back to the causeway for the final setting.
And if that wasn't a fantastic ending to the day, I see a Barn Owl fly by as I exit the Park.
Awesome day!
No comments:
Post a Comment