Jan 31 - Gravel Pit Trail (Antelope Island)

Heading up to Antelope Island today to hike the White Rock Trail; bison permitting.

The day is supposed to be partly cloudy with highs in the 40s but it's starts of very frosty with lows in the 20s.

I have to make it a quick day because of an afternoon appt so the "safari" down the island to the Ranch is not happening when I arrive; but perhaps when I'm done with my hike - time permitting.

I arrive somewhere before 8:30. It's not sunny although its trying to peek thru the clouds.

As I cross the causeway, I find a Northern Harrier perched. I stop at a good distance for a photo and then slowly creep forward. Even though he flies as a car heading east zooms by, he perches again at the next sign post. He's even calm enough for me to be right across from him

before I let him be.

It's been warmer than normal recently and much of the ice has melted but I do find an adult Bald Eagle on some ice on the Salt Lake side. I think he may have a duck. There's a white glob near him; could be feathers. (And I can't believe that is an ice chunk.)

And there are more ducks than usual in the open water by the bridge.

I reach the island and head directly to the White Rock trail head.

Several bison are feeding around the White Rock campground this morning.

And the White Rock trail is not happening today as there is a herd of around 10 bison near the trail not far from the start. :(

I could do the Bone Spur Trail, nah. I doing the Gravel Pit to Beacon Hill, so I head over to the east side of the island to the Gravel Pit.

It's in the low 30s and still no sun but I'm off on the Gravel Pit trail.

There's snow on the ground but the trail is clear. Calm walk, no animals to be seen; even birds.

I turn the final corner before the start of the Beacon Hill trail when I see 4 bison near the trail and the turn off for Beacon Hill. Beacon Hill is not happening today either. :(

I continue to walk towards the bison until I have 4 sets of eyes on me. Time to stop and head back. Well, at least I'll have time to do the "safari" now.

I do some trail cleanup on the way back. One Jolly Rancher, a wing nut and Heineken bottle and of all thing, a rubber treaded boot for a horse.

I put the boot on the sign post at the trail head; the rest is heading for a garbage can.

Time to cruise down the island.

I pass Frary Peak looking diligently for the 25 Bighorn Sheep they released the other day. Yes, I know they're already in higher country but I got to look. There are 30 more coming to re-establish the herd that was wiped out by respiratory disease back in the Fall of 2018. Welcome to the island guys!

I'm more than 1/2 way down the island when I finally find a herd of bison; a large herd of bison!

I also find a good size herd across from the Ranch.

I stop at the Ranch for a Great Horned Owl check. It's mating season perhaps they are together.

I'm half way around the outside of the woods when I see them; yes them! For the first time ever, I find both sitting next to each other!

Great way to end my day!

Jan 19 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

After a week of on and off snow (we're about 120% of normal with 300+ inches in the mountains), we have sunshine. Not particularly warm this morning - 21 degrees - but blue skies, sunshine and no inversion today!!

Heading up to Antelope Island to hike Sentry Trail.

I arrive on the frosty causeway just before 9am. It's sunny and 23 degrees.

As I cross the causeway, I see no hawks, Kestrels or Bald Eagles. In fact, the duck population is negligible to non-existent. Not sure where the usually large population of Shovelers are this year.

I reach the island and head south towards the Ranch.

I see no animals behind the Ranch (and hardly any snow either). But I see a Western Meadowlark and he's singing!

I roll past Frary Peak seeing several hawks.

Some where past Frary Peak and the Frary Homestead trail when I see my first animal of the day, a coyote moving along the lake bed. I stop to watch for a bit.

Just as I'm about to get moving, I see a white truck rolling up behind - looks like a DNR truck. I move on noting that the truck stops to check out the coyote too!

A bit farther up the road, is another large herd of bison on the west side of the road.

Not much farther up the road, there's a bison crossing.

I slowly roll up enjoying the closeness of the animals. Not grunting this morning but they are a bit slow crossing the road. They actually cross back behind me as I pass. Always cool!

Then I'm at the Ranch. I don't see any bison near the Sentry Trail so I gear up - it's 25 degrees - and start up the snowy road on the way to the trail head.

I reach the trail head and start on my way to Mushroom Springs. However, I believe there are some bison behind Mushroom Springs in the rocks on the hillside. Yep!

I'm definitely OK to get past them because they are far enough away. But they are not that far under the switchback. Hmmm.

I also see a large bird in the trees behind Mushroom Springs. This is where the Bald Eagles perch so I've got my fingers crossed.

I reach the Springs, all I can tell is it's a large black/brown bird and I don't see a white head. Could be a juvenile eagle or just large raven. I can't tell - will have to wait to check my photos. (From the photos, it's a juvenile!

I walk past and start up the hill. On my way up, I see a coyote traveling uphill somewhere near where I think the bison are. Love it!

I continue uphill and soon reach the switchback.

I start across stopping for some Horned Larks. There are 3 of them. One on the left and 2 on the right.

I reach the tree where the large bird is; the bison are somewhere below me. I head over to the edge. Yep, I see them down the hill a bit. Now I'm wondering if I should continue. They are not an issue now but when I return in an hour or so, where will they be? If they move uphill or downhill, I'll be trekking off trail through the couple inches of now. I reach the end of the switchback to get a view on Sentry Peak.

I think I'll turn around now. (My feet are a bit cold anyway.)

I head down the trail, reach the road and start back to the Ranch. I'm almost to the Ranch when I see several deer in the trees! There's a hawk flying in the background.

Back at my car, I head back north.

Just north of the Ranch, I see my third coyote of the day trotting north on the west side of the fence on the lake bed. (The fence was put up this summer to prevent animals from leaving the island or in this case, reaching the island. From my understanding, the fence was required so the Island can re-establish a herd of Bighorn Sheep. The sheep died because of that respiratory illness which DNR believes came onto the island by animals migrating onto or off of/returning to the island.)

I continue to north. The one herd of bison are all napping now.

And those previously crossing bison are also now all on the west side of the road and are napping.

I reach the north end of the island and nearing the Visitor's Center when I see my 4th coyote of the day. I stop and roll down my windows. I hear the coyote barking. I take out my binocs. I hear the barks but I don't see the coyote's mouth moving. Wait, it's mouth is moving but the sound of the bark is moments later. What a great demo of sound traveling! Looks like I'm watching a dubbed foreign movie. Mouth movement, hear comes the sound. Awesome!!

The coyote takes off running south and I continue to the west side of the island.

Coming up on the Bison Point road, there are two bison on the east side.

Heading down the White Rock road, there is a small herd of bison just south of the road. And more down near the White Rock trail.

Continuing on, there's is another group of bison north of the road.

I turn around and head back. Hey, there's a herd of Pronghorn!!

Got them all today, bison, deer, pronghorn and coyote (and the Bald Eagle)!!

On the drive back out on the causeway, I see Bald  Eagle #2!!

And a nice hawk perched on a sign just before the gate.

Awesome day!

Jan 10 - Lambs Canyon Rd

What a beautiful winter day! It snowed last night; about 2 inches of fluffy white Utah snow. Once the clouds cleared early, there's nothing but blue sky and sun. It's not partly warm but just below what is average for this time of year.

I wasn't sure what I was doing this morning with the snow and some other prior commitments but after a nice walk to get some lunch, I decide to head up to Lambs Canyon to walk the closed road. I've only been up Lambs Canyon once during the winter. It was probably my 2nd winter here when they kept the narrow windy road open. That was a white knuckles drive on packed snow/ice. I did make it to the trail parking lot but couldn't get traction in my shoes to walk across the road to the trail. It was a quick stop and then back down the road. Whew!

But the Forest Service closes the road now and it'll be the first time I'm walking it in the winter time.

I left my house just after 1pm and arrive around 1:30. I scout the road to see if I'll need the snow shoes but it looks pretty packed from prior skiers/shoe shoers - yea! I'm not fond of the snow shoes.

I gear up and start up the snow covered road for 1.5 miles to the trail head.

The road is mostly in the shade as the sun is too low on the horizon this time of year. The sunny sections were awesome!

The creek is flowing and at times I hear/see the Chickadees.

There's plenty of fluffy snow on the mountains sides; probably 3 feet covering rocks. It's absolutely awesome!

Soon I reach the trail head

and head down to the bridge for a quick look.

Time to head back to the car.

I'm surprised to see plenty of folks heading up the road including a school ground of either middle or high school kids.

Good day; bring on the snow predicted for Saturday!

Jan 4 - Gravel Pit Trail (Antelope Island)

A partly sunny day with temps in the mid-30 predicted but it's cloudy and 30 degrees when I leave my house around 8am this morning. Heading up to Antelope Island to hike the Sentry Trail (hopefully) today. As always, it depends on sunshine.

By the time I arrive on the causeway, there's some blue sky to the northwest - there's hope.

As I start across the causeway, there's a Kestrel perched on a sign. He has breakfast (mouse/vole) in his talons.

I also see a large hawk that just landed on the ground. I circle back for a photo.

Continuing on and nearing to the island, I see a large black spot on the Salt Lake side. It's a Bald Eagle!!

A bit farther along, there's another Bald Eagle on the Farmington Bay side.

(Sure wish I knew what this where doing on the ice; perhaps they got a fish and carried it to there resting spots.)

There's still just a few ducks near the island; not sure where they are this winter.

I arrive on the island and head south.

There are a few bison before the fence; they are there on New Year's Eve.

And a few more just before the rocks.

Happy to see that the Gravel Pit gates are open again; hoping they stay that way.

I find another hawk in the trees after Frary Peak

a couple of Porcupines and what looks like a Goshawk.

And hey, there's a coyote out on the lake bed!!!

Continuing, I see some bison against the mountains.

I arrive at the Ranch and see the biggest herd of bison of the day just south of the Sentry Peak trail.

Unfortunately, it's still cloudy so I decide to hike the Gravel Pit; it's shorter if the sun doesn't come out (and it's closer to the blue skies).

I head back north spotting the same coyote still trotting south.

I reach the Gravel Pit trail and start up. Once up the switchbacks, I see a group sized herd of bison on the plateau. It appears they are not close to the my trail but time will tell.

In the meantime, at Puma Rock, I spot the brine shrimp fishing boats on the Salt Lake.

Quiet walk, just the crunching of my feet on the mix of dirt/sand/ice.

That herd of bison is far away but there's another herd that is probably an issue for me to get to Beacon Hill. Again, I'll know soon.

I reach the end of the Gravel Pit trail and connect with the White Rock Trail on the way to Beacon Hill. I know there are bison somewhere ahead and am on high alert.

I round the corner and there's the herd ahead of me and yes, they are much to near the trail for me to continue. :(

Time to retreat.

On the way back down the switchbacks, I stop to listen to some coyote yipping/yapping in the distance to the east.

I do hear another coyote join in that's farther south. Always cool to hear!

Back at my car, I head to the east side, spotting 4 deer (I assume doe back they are feeding and I can't see their heads) in the sagebrush near Bison Point. Yea!

Good day!

Jan 3 - Little Dell Reservior

Finally, it's a sunny day and in the valley the temperatures are around 47 degrees - heat wave! It's also the best day of the entire week and the only day this week that I went to work. But no worries, I only worked to mid-day so have a bit of time to enjoy the "warmth" and sunshine before the next storm rolls in this week-end.

And for my 1st hike of the new year, doing something simple with lots of sunshine and fresh air: Little Dell.

I arrive just after 1:30pm. It's sunny and 42 degrees.

After 6+ inches of snow on New Year's Day, it's white and still glistening. However, the snow has melted from the trees.

Thankfully, enough snow shoers have created a path down the hill to the trail.

Seeing lots of rabbit tracks

and something that's a mouse/vole or other small critter with a long tail.

I make a detour to the reservoir for a quick look

before continuing down the trail.

As also scanning the hillsides but no luck with large animals today.

I do spot a single Chickadee!!

I return down the snow covered road seeing one Northern Shrike sitting over an old nest.

Good day!