Heading up to Antelope Island for a drive-thru (and I'm hoping the baby Great Horned Owls might be out).
There's rain still in the air this morning (even though the weathermen said it would be gone by morning). But that's OK because, after the driest April on record, we need every drop.
As I drive across the causeway, there's big absence of shorebirds this morning. I guess they've move north.
I reach the island and head south towards the Ranch.
I find a few bison out on the lake bed just under the first view. No babies in this herd, just males.
I bit farther down the road (before the White Rock ridge), I roll up on the Moms and babies again out on the lake bed avoiding them biting gnats. There are 2 sections to the herd; one in "greener" pasture and the other a little south may 200-300 yards.
Under Frary Peak, I find a lone Pronghorn walking north thru the grasses.
And a bit farther, I find 3 deer in the grasses near the lake bed.
Farther down the road, I find a small herd of Pronghorn guess where? Yep, on the lake bed!
I reach the Ranch and continue down to the end of the dirt road spotting no critters.
On the way back, I'm nearing the fenced in field when a coyote trots across the road several feet in front of me. Love it!
I stop at the Ranch and fight thru the gnats to the wooded area. I hear a couple of guys pointing out an owl to another person. I stay away and luckily find a different view of that owl. And this morning, I actually get to watch the owl do something. He's grooming himself!! Very cool!
After a bit, the one guy works his way over behind me and notices a second owl also grooming herself! (One of these are the male, now sure which at this point.)
At first I'm a disappointed because I assume they're both out because they didn't have babies. :(
I move around trying to get a better angle on the other one and then find myself under the first.
I take a loop around the woods and am about to leave the area when I hear a lady tell the two guys that the babies are in a box in the barn. They did have babies!!! Yea!
Of course, I head over to the barn and look and look. I see a ramp to the upper level and head up. There I find what has to be the "boxes" (grain box). I walk past several but the final 2 or 3 are blocked off. They must be in one of those boxes and are hunkered down because Mom and Dad are gone. :(
Next time, they'll be out!
Hey, I can't complain, I've had an awesome day so far!
Time to head back up the island.
I spot a Porcupine along the way.
And the 2 separate Mom and baby herds are now one.
Rounding the corner to the north end of the island, I find a hawk hovering in the air.
I head over to the west side of the island finding a few bison in the area behind the Visitor's Center.
A lone Pronghorn in front of Bison Point.
There are also a few as I turn to head to White Rock parking. (Surprise, there are only 2 cars in the parking lot -- darn gnats!)
Awesome day!
No comments:
Post a Comment