Valley is really socked in this morning. I can't even see much off the highway and the Wasatch Mts are buried in smog. I'm hoping it clears as I head north - weather forecast does says partly sunny this afternoon.
I arrive on the causeway and it's even worse. I don't think visibility is more than 50-75 ft. It's just varying shades of grey everywhere. As I pass the pay station, I do see a Kestrel perched on a traffic sign. He flies as I drive by.
Can't see much off either side of the road but I continue on. The only reason I know I'm nearing the bridge, is I can see a big flock of ducks hugging the shoreline. As I roll to a stop, they all take off at the same time. Pretty amazing to see hundreds of ducks take-off at once. Because of the fog, I lose sight of them quickly.
I slow as I near the docks. Through the fog I can see a darker grey shape of a Bald Eagle on a pole. Awesome!
(Yes, that's a Bald Eagle.)
I turn left as always heading toward the Ranch but as I drive behind the Visitor's Center I realize that unless an animal is next to the road, I'm not seeing anything. So I head over towards the west side and the White Rock Trail. By the time I got there, I decide that walking in this was not what I really want to do. I can't see a thing, I don't want to breathe this air .... I know I drove all this way but I'm turning back home and up out of this valley for some sun (and crisp, clean air)!
On my drive out, I see a Norther Harrier perched on a road marker.
I head home and then up Emigation Canyon to East Canyon Reservior. As I drive up the canyon, the fog/haze is slowly lifting. I make a stop alongside the road to look back at the clouds covering Salt Lake City.
By the time I'm above (or at) the reservoir, I'm in clean air!! Amazing what 1300 ft can do!
Still plenty of clouds this morning but they are moving off and soon I'll be basking in sunshine!
I follow the snow-packed trail down towards the lake. Lots of Chickadees calling this morning.
Down to lake level, the trail heads north. I make a quick detour down to the lake
finding some animals tracks on my return. (Raccoon, Porcupine???)
I follow the trail north thru the trees and open meadows.
Early on, I hear rustling in the leaves -- it's a Towhee! (He's too fast to photograph.)
As I continue, I'm constantly looking for moose/elk/deer on the foothills to my east. There's not much snow on the foothills so the brush fool me several times into thinking I found something! :( But I do find animal paths on those foothills.
It's a pretty quiet walk as I lost the Chickadees when I left the lake area. But at one point I do find 5 Robins in a single tree!
I finally get my animal fix for the day when I find a lone squirrel scampering thru the trees.
(Oh, he's has a buddy on the other side of the trail.)
Towards the end of the trail, I'm seeing moose/deer/elk tracks along the trail. It's a good sign, but still no sightings.
I reach the end of the trail and decide to walk the road back. (They close the road in the winter for X-country skiing, snowshoe, walking.)
Once back to my car, I head down the snow-covered road down to the lake. Seeing lots of Mallards
on my way to the lake.
Good day!
