Supposed to be a sunny day with temps in the 90s but it looks like rain this morning with temps in the 70s already.
I arrive on the causeway before 8am. It's looking like rain up here as well.
I'm a bit disappointed as I cross the island as I'm expecting to see water but there's nothing. On the positive side, there is bright green vegetation growing along the lakes edge.
Lots of shorebirds along the causeway - Avocets
Black-necked Stilts
Glossy Ibis
(other)
I arrive on the island and head south towards the Ranch.
See a lone Pronghorn walking south on the lake bed.
Just before Frary Peak, I'm stopped by a bison crossing which includes Moms and babies.
I also see a lone male in the grasses below. He's bellowing for his herd to "come on down". (I've heard bison moan/groan but never bellow - fun stuff.)
Once the herd passes, I get out of the car and watch the bison coming on down. Fun stuff.
Some of them start to head south towards a larger group of bison.
I turn and there's more bison coming down and crossing the road.
Well the bison are down, it's time to move on.
I start my car and start moving but I look up slope and there's one more bison coming down.
Big male below starts bellowing and moving towards the road. The other bison crosses road and enters the grasses. I thought there'd be a stand-off but the one steers off. Cool.
I continue south passing 2 more Pronghorn.
I reach the bigger herd.
I look to my right and there's 4 fluffy baby birds scurrying back into the grasses. I'm thinking they're pheasant.
Head down dirt road --- nothing and just gray lake bed -- where did all that snow run-off go - thought the Jordan River empties into the Bay.
I arrive at the Ranch and head back to check for owls. I scare a deer into the grasses.
And then I find an Owl.
But I should've looked harder because a guy told me the babies where still around. Oh well.
Time to head up the island.
I find the two pronghorn and another two and then the very first; all on the lake bed. And this bison who had a bit of a tuffle with sagebrush.
Oh, I see a Burrowing Owl too. But as I roll to a stop, she goes into the burrow. :(
I reach the north side and head towards White Rock. There I find one Pronghorn near the road.
And I see a couple more on the other side. I head up to the Bison Point view point to check the out.
Oh yea, and the view!
I circle back towards the Visitor's Center. I don't see the Burrowing Owl that's usually behind the Center but I do find a Jack Rabbit!!
Awesome day!
