Sept 7 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

 Sunny day with highs in the mid 90s. Heading to Antelope Island this morning to hike the Sentry Trail (and avoid the mountain crowds).

I get an earlier start leaving around 6:30am to head up to the island.

Boy, is it hazy out this morning! Looks like winter air quality.

I arrive on the causeway and it's in the low 60s with the sun trying to burn through the haze.

Crossing the causeway there are tons of birds flying in on their southern migration. I'm seeing Shovelers, 

Avocets, etc.

I arrive on the island and head towards the Ranch; first stopping to checkout the sunrise.

But first, I make a quick stop to look at a bison behind the Visitor's Center. There are a few more along the stretch before the fence - Bachelor herd.

Hold on, there's also 3 buck heading to the road!! Two have really nice antlers and the other is a bit smaller. I pull ahead and hope they'll cross the road but they stop in the sagebrush.

I could wait but I want to get to my hike.

I continue on stopping to view the Burrowing Owl family is out enjoying the hazy early morning sun.

There's a bison not far from the Owls taking a roll in the dirt.

I continue on past Frary Peak and on some point get stopped by a large herd of bison crossing the road. Always a great thing to get so close - especially when there are babies!!

While waiting for them to cross, there are coyotes howling in the distance. :)

A bit farther down the road is another herd but it up along the mountains.

I continue down to the Sentry Peak parking, gear up and start my hike towards Mushroom Springs.

Soon I'm up on the long switchback. Seeing lots of small lizards zooming under my feet

and grasshoppers (the small ones). 

There are also Meadowhawk and Darner dragonflies out.

As to flowers, there are still a few Sunflowers, lots of yellow composites and a couple of Rocky Mt Bee Balm.

Before long I reach the top

Not much of a view because of the haze but it's not too bad.

I start across the ridge. I'm approaching the backside of Sentry Peak when I notice 2 "mickey mouse" ears of a mule deer doe looking right at me. Very cool!

I continue along and she soon disappears. I look for her on the other side but she's disappeared.

Time to start heading down.

At one point I again notice a 4 legged creature looking at me from a distance. This time it's a Pronghorn! Very cool!

I continue down to my car and head up the island. I stop one last time at the Burrowing Owls.

At the north end, I head over to the west side looking for critters finding only a few bison.

Awesome day!