Heading up to Antelope Island (yes again) to hopefully walk Sentry Trail.
When I arrive around 9:30 it's already in the 40s.
I see 4 hawks all patrolling along the causeway looking for breakfast.
Still only sea gulls (and growing numbers of them) along the shorelines.
I reach the island and head south towards the Ranch.
There's are a couple of bison along the ridge behind the Visitor's Center.
Approaching the White Rock ridge, I see a couple of white spots about 1/2 way up the hill. I stop and find 3 Pronghorn!! (There were 4 here last week; perhaps one is laying down.)
Continuing on a bit farther and just nearing the Frary Peak road, a coyote sprints across the road in front of me. I stop to try to find him on the slopes but he's gone.
It isn't until after passing Frary Peak do I find some bison. They are just dots along the bottom of the mountains.
A mile or two farther, there's a bigger herd closer to the road on the west side.
And just passed them, it's another "sprinter"; this time it's a lone Pronghorn. He's crosses to over to the east side of the road.
I reach the Ranch and find a large herd of bison spread out in the meadow near the Sentry trail. Too risky to walk, I turn and head back north to hike the White Rock Trail.
On the way back north, the lone Pronghorn is continuing to move east towards the shore.
Across from the large herd of bison are several stragglers - I missed them earlier.
I also find a Porcupine and Hawk.
And just after passing the hawk, I look to my right and see two Pheasant flying along with my car. How cool! One was a male; not sure about the other.
I reach the north side of the island. The bison on the ridge behind the Visitor's Center are still there. There are 4 of them.
There is also several along the road up to Bison Point.
There are also 2 bison across from the parking lot for the trail. Hope they stay there.
I gear up and start up the trail. Again no bison along the trail today (yea).
As I move along, I see a small herd of bison out near the corrals but no other bison or other critters along the hike.
At the midpoint (just before hiking the ridge), Frary Peak is still covered in snow.
Along the inner loop, I find an increased number of black beetles and Tiger beetles. Spring is coming.
And another surprise, my first lizard of the season!!
I also see two hawks in the same area circling for lunch.
On my way out of the parking area, I see a small herd of Pronghorn. They are hard to see as they are hidden by grasses.
Good day!
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