Utah has received a lot of snow the last few weeks; all of Utah has snow pack exceeding 100% of normal which is awesome! (And 2 of the 4 Wasatch ski resorts in Big & Little Cottonwood canyon have exceeded 400 inches for the year.) Keep the snow falling!
Last week we got a touch of Spring with temperatures in the 50s before the bottom fell up with yet another cold front Friday night.
Today, temperatures are in the 20s when I head out with a high in the low 30s. The forecast is for mostly cloudy with the possibly of snow showers but we had the same forecast yesterday and it was a beautiful sunny day. Hoping for the same thing today.
As I near the entrance to Antelope Island, there's a new dusting of snow on the ground (street included). The causeway has the same dusting of snow and it's pretty slippery but it looks awesome with the coating of snow.
Not too far from the entrance, I see what could be a Northern Harrier perched in the distance. (Slid right past him trying to stop. :)
As I near the bridge, I'm ready to look for Bald Eagle but because of the 50 degree temperatures a few days ago, the water is open. There aren't even any ducks in sight!
I reach the island and head south towards the Ranch. (It's 26 degrees and somewhat sunny but lots of clouds moving through.)
The landscape is awesome looking because of the snow
but it isn't until just before Frary Peak before I notice a herd of bison under White Rock ridge near a rock outcropping. Took myself a little while to convince myself they were actually bison.
Continuing on, I see a Porcupine and once past the Frary Homestead, I see some bison along the edge of the Bay.
Then on to the Ranch. I'm planning on hiking the Sentry Trail this morning. The sun is out now so the conditions are perfect.
I start out heading down the road looking for animals. No deer behind the Ranch this morning but I do see 2 Pheasant fly east from the garden.
As I near the actual Sentry trail head, I see a large herd of bison farther south.
Hmmm, should I hike the trail or head down towards the bison? I see my answer in the distance....Pronghorn! I'm heading towards the bison (and Pronghorn)!
The Pronghorn are on the west side of the trail; the bison on the east. No wait, there are Pronghorn on the east side too just north of the bison. Oh, and there's a larger grouping of Pronghorn south of the bison. Lots of Pronghorn down here!
I pass the first group of Pronghorn to the west. There's a few standing and a few laying down.
As I continue, I get a glimpse of something low to the ground, brown and furry moving towards the Pronghorn. I see it twice but because of the rolling landscape, I never get a good look. But I'm assuming it's a coyote!
I continue down the road. The 4 pronghorn to the east notice me and start moving south towards the bison.
I pass a few more Pronghorn to the west without issue but the Pronghorn ahead of me are getting a bit skittish. Then a group of them start running west.
And then another group. Pronghorn moving everywhere!
Oops, now the bison are moving west too and crossing the road.
That's the end of my journey down the road. Glad I made the detour!
On the way back to the Ranch, I see a Horned Lark
and I see 4 deer (all doe) behind the Ranch in the trees.
Then I check for the Great Horned Owls; sadly, no sighting still.
I do check with the DNR guy who indicates that there is still male around. Yea! Hoping he "woos" a female to his territory pretty soon.
Time to head north up the road; next stop Frary Peak.
On the way, I see 1 porcupine on the ground (too many people around to stop), another that's quite active in the trees picking Russian Olive fruit.
and then the one I saw earlier.
I reach the lower parking for Frary Peak, park and start up the road. I want to head up and look for rabbits in the rocks near the upper parking. There's just a 23% incline between me and the rocks. Great way to warm up!
I reach the rocks, lots of rabbit tracks in the snow. I move slowly checking for rabbits. I round a rock pile and there's a rabbit. But he quickly jumps in his hole. :(
I continue around the rocks still looking but all I find are tracks. (And some nice views.)
Time to head down for one last stop at Bison Point.
There are several bison along the road at the base of Bison Point and I can see 2 groups of 4 bison along the White Rock trail to the south.
But it's time to head up the trail to the top.
At the top, there are tons of Chukkar tracks. But I don't hear or see any. I check the rock outcropping for them but still, only tracks.
Time to head down.
Great day and a perfect ending when I find a Kestrel perched on a sign just outside the entrance.
Excellent day!
