Feb 14 - Antelope Island

 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 are crossing snow. I stop quickly to check them out. It's 4 deer; 3 buck and a doe. 

They reach the south edge and disappear in the rocks. Very cool!

I continue on for a few miles before I spot a lone Pronghorn to the west. I stop; ooh, there's 2 Pronghorn!!

I move on stopping for 3 deer on the edge of Farmington Bay. Looks like 2 buck and a doe. They are moving south.

I arrive at the Ranch and yea, there are no bison to be seen along the Sentry Trail. Let's see how cold it is out there (the temp says 25).

I head out to the barn to look for owls. Yea, there's one up in the rafters! As I get closer and guy enters the far side of the barn and points out another owl that's perched against the owl on the east entrance. I show him the other part of the pair.

I stop for photos of both. Boy, a flash sure brings out their "devil" eyes!



Time to head back to the car, it's too cold because of the wind. :(

I head back up the island, spotting a good sized herd of bison up near the mountains.

I'm rolling up to those 3 bison near the Gravel Pit and surprise, there's a herd of Pronghorn basically along the road!!! 

I count 21 of them but there's more coming in! Awesome!


I reach the north end and head over to the west side. Lots of bison scattered around Bison Point, the White Rock Trail and the White Rock parking.

Good day!

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