The 2021 Utah Adventure

 Rainy, snowy day yesterday with a cold front rolling thru. It's cloudy, extremely windy and 20 degrees when I set off this morning hoping to get a hike in at Antelope Island. It'll all depend on what the wind is up on the Island. Weather says its 6mph, I can't believe that when we have east canyon winds blowing but I'm hoping to be surprised. I arrive on the causeway, the sun is peeking out but it, unfortunately, won't last long because to the west is all clouds. They didn't get any snow here on the ground; I was expecting it. I see no birds on the causeway except, of course, ducks in the open water. I reach the island and head south as always. There's a small group of bison in the rocks; they were there last week as well. And then there's the group of 3 bison still hanging around the Gravel Pit area. As I roll up closer to the Frary Peak road, I see 4 critters moving faster across the south end of the White Rock ridge. They are so easy to see as they a...

 Sunny day with highs in the low 50s. Heading up to Antelope Island to hopefully hike the Sentry Trail. Hoping the all day snow we had on Friday has encouraged the 4-5 bison still hanging out around the Sentry trail have moved on... please! Beautiful crossing of the causeway. It's a mix of ground, water and ice. No hawks this morning but I do spot 1 Bald Eagle on the north side of the causeway and another on the south side. I arrive on the island and head south towards the Ranch. There's a little herd of bison among the rocks on the first turn.  That's all the critters until I'm about 2-3 miles from the Ranch; there I find a good sized herd up on a "mesa" against the mountains - just little black dots. I arrive at the Ranch and yea, I see no bison. I gear up and head south towards the start of the Sentry Trail. Along the way, I spot 3 deer in the trees. They are hard to see because of the morning sun. Looks like 2 buck and a doe. I reach the trail and head tow...

  Mostly sunny day with highs in the mid-40s predicted. I arrive on the causeway and it look so much different than last week when we had our first real snow fall of the season. Today, all the snow is pretty much gone (except on the mountains) and in shadier spots. I find no hawks or kestrels this more. I do see a Bald Eagle flying north over the causeway. Much of the ice especially near the bridge is now melted. The up side, there are many more ducks this morning. All the activity from last week is gone. All I see on my trip down to the Ranch and back are 2 bison near the Gravel Pit road entrance. I even started the hike down towards Sentry Peak because I saw no bison. But unfortunately as I got closer, I spot a small group of bison still hanging up 1/2 way up the first hill. Darn! :( So it's back to my car and back up the island to the Gravel Pit. Those 2 bison are even nearer the trail but I start up anyway. Again, it's a very quiet walk except for the wind blowing in my ear...

 Mostly sunny day with highs in the mid-40s. Beautiful morning with temps already around 31 degrees when I leave my house just before 8am. Arriving on the causeway, it's still clear but temps are a bit lower and there's a fog bank closer to the island. As I cross, I see no Kestrels, hawks or Bald Eagles although where the eagles tend to hang out is pretty foggy so they may still be out there. Once on the island, I head south toward the Ranch still hoping the bison have moved on and I can once again hike the Sentry Trail. I do spot a lone bison in the fog down on the lake bed. And then surprise, 3 very large buck rounding the corners not too far away. I roll up in time to see the larger 2 drop their heads and then start walking downhill towards the lake bed. I do get a good look at the smallest one which is still a really nice buck. I continue on and it isn't until just before the Ranch before I spot bison again. Smaller herds closer to the mountains. And then of course, the...

 Finally some "significant" snow in the mountains (20 inches) and in parts of the northern valley (4-6 inches). I got perhaps 2 inches. Let's hope it keeps going strong! Heading up to Antelope Island. I'm hoping for a hike and hoping the snow has the animals moving especially that bison herd that's been camping out at the Sentry Trail. Their food is definitely buried so it'll be harder for them. I reach the causeway and it's cloudy and a bit foggy but the trip across has some excitement. First, there's a large hawk alongside the causeway but he flies as I stop then there's a Kestrel then a V-formation of Tundra Swans flying over head and to the south (unfortunately, I couldn't stop fast enough) Love white birds flying overhead. and then a lone coyote heading east on the ice. Followed by a Kestrel. Not a bad start!! The ducks have seemingly move on looking for open water. I arrive on the island and there's snow! It's covering the sagebru...