Dec 25 - Gravel Pit Trail (Antelope Island)

 Merry Christmas!

Cold morning with the temperatures at 20 degrees when I leave my home around 7:30am.

Heading up to Antelope Island to hopefully hike the White Rock Trail - yesterday it was bison-free.

Sunny and still only 20 degrees when I arrive at the causeway. Definitely very frozen looking this morning.

I don't see any birds of prey along the way until I get closer to the island when I spot a Bald Eagle out on the ice. 

It doesn't take long for the bird to fly - cool!

Lots of ducks huddled in the open water by the bridge.

When I reach the island, I head directly to White Rock passing a few bison heading up towards Bison Point.

As I drive down toward the White Rock parking, I see bison standing along the trail - shoot! Need some weather to move them along I think.

I turn and head towards the Gravel Pit.

I actually drive to the lower Frary Peak parking -- pit stop. No critters seen along the way.

The short road to the Gravel Pit trail is now closed (snow/ice) so I park at the gate and walk in. Crunchy walking on the snow/ice.

But once I get to the trail, it's pretty clear.

It is cold though with the light wind. Need my ski cap and fleece mask to keep warm.

Nice quiet walk and before long I'm heading up Beacon Hill.

I find a little snowman at the end.

Also, heard a couple of coyotes howl to the south.

Time to head back.

Back at my car, I head north. As I round the curve, I see a few Pronghorn on the west side of the road. I stop for a few photos.

I continue only a few feet because there's several Pronghorn at the edge of the road (right side). I stop to watch.

There are Pronghorn streaming over the edge of the slope - very cool since it's so rare to get close.

Another car passes me and the Pronghorn and then stops. He gets out of the car. The Pronghorn are still happy...until he's dogs start to bark. Heads up!

Off go the Pronghorn - people and their dogs :(

On way back across the causeway, I find the Eagle again and a Kestrel.

Good day!

Dec 24 - Antelope Island

 Sunny but cold this morning with temps in the 20s.

Crossing the causeway, everything is frosty or frozen.

No luck on the Bald Eagles this morning but I do spot a Kestrel.

I reach the island and head south towards the Ranch stopping for a Kestrel behind the Visitor's Center.

Quiet until I see a Porcupine across from Frary Peak. Since there's no one around, I stop and walk down to take a peek.

Hey, he's feeding - way cool!!!

So cool to see his hands moving!

I move on, passing another Porcupine not that far away.

Continuing on, I catch sight of a herd of Pronghorn to the west. They're pretty hidden behind the tall grasses but they are there.

I also find a decent sized bison herd not far from the Ranch.

I pull up at the Ranch and I'm happy to see that the bison seem to have moved on - I can hike Sentry Peak today!

But first, I stop to look for Owls. I do find a puffed out Northern Flicker 

and some brown bird with long legs in the water (Virginia Rail?)

Then I start my walk toward the trail head. Along the way I see a little herd of doe laying in the grasses. I can see steam coming out of their noses.

As I pass, a few of them stand.

I also see a buck 

and what look like a doe in the distance -- the "doe" is actually a small buck. 

As I move closer to the trail head, I see that there are bison laying near Mushroom Springs -- no Sentry Trail today. :(

I head back to my car (after another check for Owls) and head north.

I see a black dot along the shoreline. I spot because it's out of place. Hey, it's moving... coyote! And he's running north.

That herd of Pronghorn are harder to see on the return as they are now laying.

I spot for that 2nd Porcupine. He's not eating but he's awake!!

I stop at the lower Frary Peak trail and walk up to the trail - just for some exercise. - and walk around a point looking for rabbits - no luck.

Time to head home -- good day!

Dec 20 - Antelope Island

 Mostly cloudy day with highs near 40 degrees.

It's below freezing when I start crossing the causeway. I stop for a perched Kestrel.

When I get to frozen water, I spot a lone Bald Eagle out in the distance (perhaps he's one of them from last week).

Bunches of ducks in the open water under the bridge.

When I reach the island, I head south towards the Ranch. Hoping to hike the Sentry Trail and curious to see if there are Bald Eagles perched around Mushroom Springs.

Pretty quiet morning on the snow covered landscape.

I spot 3 porcupine across from Frary Peak.

Patches of bison with some herds near the Ranch.

Arriving at the Ranch, I see lots of bison scattered around the Sentry trail - sad.

I stop at the Ranch to check on the Owls.

I do find both of them (rare find) sitting next to each other in the north east corner of the woods. Hard to see their faces though.

Time to head north - no hiking today :(

I swing over to the north side of the island finding bison on the upside of Bison Point and more bison around the parking lot of White Rock.

On the causeway on the way out, I spot 5 (yes, 5) Bald Eagles! There's a 3-some and a pair.

One of the pair flies east. 

I find him a bit east and closer to the causeway. A second flies in and lands.

A few minutes later more fly.

So very cool!

Dec 13 - Antelope Island

 Partly sunny with the temps at 19 degrees when I left for Antelope Island. My hope is to hike Sentry Peak - but it's cold.

I arrive at the causeway and it's 20 degrees and the sun is just cresting the mountains.

I quickly spot a Northern Harrier (??)

and a Kestrel.

Lots of ducks in the open water near the bridge -- everything else is frozen.

There's still a little dusting of snow remaining from yesterday morning's snow.

The area behind the Visitor's Center is animal free.

Hmmm, they have the road to the Gravel Pit trail closed.

I do spot my first critter - a lone bison - downslope and rounding the curve past the 1st pull-off.

And then, surprise, there's coyote starting up toward Beacon Hill.

I see 3 porcupine in the trees across from Frary Peak. (FYI: the road to Frary Peak is closed.)

Farther along and behind a hill I spot a big herd of Pronghorn - always fun to spot.

And then there's a small herd of bison in the sagebrush.

Arriving at the Ranch, I see a deer in the distance. Closer look reveals it's a large buck!

And after waiting a bit, looks like he has a mate -- how sweet, they both have blue ear tags!

There are no bison near Sentry Trail (finally) so I gear up and start off. But my camera is now saying memory card failure and my feet are already cold -- it's more clouds than sun at this point -- so I head back to my car. Yes, a bit disappointed because I really wanted a hike. So back north I go.

Well, that little herd of bison is now a huge herd on the west side of the road -- I had to have missed them on my way to the Ranch. But there are bison still crossing that are from my original herd.

I'm back on the causeway and probably more than 1/2 way across when I see a Bald Eagle and a crow/raven. Crud my camera is dead -- I try anyway and yea, it's no longer reporting errors!!

They have breakfast and at times the Crow/Raven sneaks away a few morsels. Lots of wing waving goes along with that. (I wish my photos came out - just not enough light for action & zoom).

Looks likes a ducks as it appears the eagle is throwing feathers and it looks like he is holding a wing.

At one point, another Bald Eagle flies in - how cool!

The second lands not too far away. After a bit, the eagle with the catch, flies past the 2nd eagle and continues eating!

Love it!!

My camera begins reporting errors again so it's time to go.

My hiking disappointment is no longer - if I hiked, I would not have witnessed this.

Great day!

N0v 29 - White Rock Trail (Antelope Island)

 Sunny cold morning with temperatures in the low 20s

As I arrive on the causeway, there's a fog bank blocking the view of the island. But as I get closer, the bank, thankfully, starts to break up and I can see again.

I reach the island and head south towards the Ranch.

No critters to be seen again today. I check for deer near Frary Peak and find none (although there were cars pulled off seemingly looking at something that I couldn't see).

I turn around and head north and over to White Rock campground. 

Still plenty of bison hanging out on the north side of Bison Point (been there for weeks now). And there's a herd just south of the road up to Bison Point parking.

I reach the parking lot and there are only a few cars parked just after 9am.

There are 5-6 bison along the bottom trail but the trail up to the top is clear. As I head up, those bison that were hanging out (there ones that caused me to walk only 1/2 the trail on Friday) are still there but along the fence line. I think I'm good. So up I go.

I pass those bison along the fence without issue (I actually couldn't even see them as I walk by).

Then it's just a quiet walk around the loop. 

There are 2 bison on the far side of the White Rock meadow and that's all the critters I find.

Along the causeway on the way out, I do see a Kestrel perched on a mile marker.

Good day!

N0v 27 - Gravel Pit Trail (Antelope Island)

 Another sunny (snow-less) day with highs in the low 40s. Heading back to Antelope Island again hoping the bison move so I can hike the Sentry Trail.

It's in the high 20s with a light north wind when I arrive just after 8:30.

Again there are no bison, deer, pronghorn behind the Visitor's Center.

In fact, it isn't until I roll up on the rocky hill just before the Frary Peak turn-off is there a critter. As I roll up, I see a bunch of trucks pulled off and several guys with large lens. I look down to the east and see nothing. But I spot a guy directing me to look up the slopes to the west and yep, a lone buck.

I continue along seeing that the Park burnt a splotch of Phagmyties (an invasive grass). Great for invasive control but the downside is that the deer like hanging out in those grasses. 

At the little pull out, I spot a Porcupine (1st one of the Fall/Winter). 

I park and walk over hoping he is active but no such luck.

I continue along and it's not until I'm not far from the Ranch, I see my first bison herd. Pretty good size but not super huge.

I reach the Ranch and decide to look for owls. Unfortunately, the gates are all still closed. So back in my car, I head to Sentry Trail as it appears the bison have moved on (yea)!

I park, gear up and start up the trail. Then I spot 3 small herds. One just south of the trail (passing the bison < 40 yards), 

one far south of the trail 1/2 way up the mountains, and one way high and away from the trail (I think). 

I continue on and for a while before I decide I'm not feeling like passing those bison - again I'm not sure why but I head back to my car and drive towards the Gravel Pit.

On the way north, I pass a Northern Harrier.

I reach the Gravel Pit parking and I'm the only car. As I gear up, a couple of bikers arrive; I'll have some brief company on the trail.

I start on my way.

I find no critters along the way but there are bison down in the White Rock campground (just little black dots).

I decide to head up to Beacon Hill 

and I'm on the final stretch when I scare a good size flock of Chukkars. Some go right and over the edge of the hill and the other go left.

As I near the edge myself (i.e., picnic tables), I can still see a Chukkar right at the edge.

Great views today!!

As I turn to head back, there's a lot of Chukkar chatter that goes between the flock on my left and right. I see the guys to my right 

and watch as they slowly start moving to the left to reunite with the rest of their flock. I stop and watch. Eventually, the right flock gets some confidence and crosses the road and runs to the edge. Pretty cool stuff!

Time to head back to my car. (It's a little cool with the breeze in my face - brrr!)

Good day!

Nov 26 - Dell Reservoir

 Happy Thanksgiving!!

It's around 30 degrees at my house with mostly cloudy skies. We had a dusting of snow last night; it looks so pretty.

I head up just after 9am to the Dell Reservoir for a snowy Thanksgiving hike.

There's quite a few cars in the lot this morning. It's 26 degrees with a bit more sun than in the valley.

The lake looks stunning with a coating of snow along the foothill and lake edges.

I head down the path to the trail below.

Lots of fresh critter tracks in the snow 

including turkey (perhaps, otherwise Chukkar).

Just a nice quiet walk this morning. I hear a couple of Chickadees and see a couple of Robins and 2 fluffy white/grey bunnies playing chase.

I also some some deer tracks.

When I reach the road, 

it's time to head back to my car.

Back at the northern edge of the parking lot...

Good day!