Dec 12 - Antelope Island Cruise

 Cloudy day forecast and it's 32 degrees out. Not my normal hiking day but I'm heading out to Antelope Island to check on critter movements after this weeks snow - and perhaps, squeak a hike in.

I arrive on the causeway around 8:30. It's cloudy, 32 degrees. The snow that remains is almost a just a dusting across the landscape. The peaks on the island definitely has snow.

As I cross I find a Kestrel and a coyote far in the distance.

Duck hunters (a bunch of them) are once again near the island.

I reach the island and turn south towards the Ranch.

There are 2 bison along the road behind the Ranch.

After them, it's quiet until just after the road to Frary Peak. (Note because of this week snow, the gates are down on the roads to the Gravel Pit, Frary Peak and Sentry Peak trail heads.)

After Frary Peak, I see a lone bison moving north.

Not to much farther south, there's a small herd (20'sh) of bison.

A bit farther down the road is another small herd of bison.

And still farther down the road is yet another small herd of bison.

I make a stop at a pit toilet and when I get out of the car, I see a coyote along the lakebed; he's moving north.

Then it's onto the Ranch passing another herd of bison.

I stop at the Ranch to go check for Owls. I look thru the barn, the woods and the picnic area but find no owls. :(

Time to move north.

When I reach the Visitor's Center, I check out the west side of the island, I check for animals there. I find nothing.

Oh, on the way out, I find another Kestrel.

Not a very exciting day but 2 coyotes, bison and a couple of Kestrels, not so bad.

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