It's still in the 30s as I cross the causeway. Appears the only waterfowl left are Coots.
When I reach the island, I turn left to head to the Ranch.
Along the road behind the Visitor's Center, there are a bunch of big trucks with men all lined up with their spotting scopes and big lens cameras pointing behind the Visitor's Center. I'm sure they are all watching a buck Mule Deer. I pull off and scan the area but do not find anything. I'm moving on.
Moving a bit farther, I find a lone bison.
And still farther, in the rocks, I find another bison.
I'm rolling up on the Gravel Pit trail when I see a lone bison with some vegetation stuck in his horns. He's not happy and he's walking towards the road. I stop to watch as he plows his head into the vegetation to shake off his "head ornament". He is successful and takes a roll on the ground kicking up some dust.
I wonder if he is one that gave me a hard time last week when I tried to hike the Gravel Pit.
The viewpoint is feet away and I head in. There I find two other bison - yes, probably the 3 I met last week.
Time to move on. I pass Frary Peak and see cars pulled off head. I'm betting another buck.
Sure enough, as I get closer, I see a doe and a large buck. She is dutifully following him.
At one point, he decides to have a fight with a sapling. His head swaying from side-to-side. Pretty fun to watch.
I continue on finding a Hawk
and wondering where all the bison are and it isn't until I reach the Ranch when I see them. A large herd hanging around the start of the Sentry Trail. Guess I'm hiking White Rock.
I don't stop to look at them as there are 3 other cars watching; I turn around and head north toward the White Rock Trail.
Along the way, I find another herd of bison tucked in among the rocks near the mountains. Impossible to see heading south.
And I roll back up on the buck/doe I start earlier. But, I see another doe in the grasses near them. I stop, get out of my car for a look.
As I stand on the side of the road, I hear rustling/movement below me. Hey, there are 5 doe in the grasses below me (maybe 30 feet away) happily eating. Way cool!
Continuing on, as I start up the hill to the viewpoint, there's a herd of Pronghorn alongside the road. Some are even barely on the road!! I stop for a look!
I'm not sure if they were hiding in the grasses when I went through before or they moved in but very nice!
The 3 bison are still nearby at the viewpoint.
I continue on to the White Rock Trail. It's still in the 30s as I start up the trail.
The trail is quite. No animal sightings on the way to the White Rock overlook. Actually, no humans either.
I look in the White Rock meadow but can't find any.
I work my way down to and along the inner trail. Just a few small grasshoppers hopping around.
I'm looking for deer/pronghorns on the hill sides but find none. But, as I'm about 1/2 way across the inner trail, I do see 3 bison out in the meadow!!
And as I complete the inner trail and rounding the corner north, I find another bison along the lake shore.
Great day!
