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!

Nov 25 - White Rock Trail (Antelope Island)

Sunny day with highs in the mid-40s. Heading to Antelope Island with a plan to hike up to Frary Peak.

It's in the low 30s and sunny as I cross the causeway.

The water is icy this morning and I do not see any ducks in the water.

I reach the island and head south towards the Ranch. There are no critters behind the Visitor's Center. And the rest of the island for that matter up until I reach the Ranch. Those bison are still hanging out around the Sentry Trail.

I turn around and head back north to the Frary Peak trail. Once there, I change my mind. Not sure why; perhaps it's because I'm usually migrated to Indiana to spend Thanksgiving (i.e., my mojo is confused). But I decide to head over to the White Rock Trail.

There are bison along the bottom of bison point.

There are only 2 cars in the parking lot so I gear up and start up the trail.

As I approach the uphill section, I see 4 bison on the downside of the trail ahead of me. They look a little too close for me to walk by so a the top of the hill, I just head counter-clockwise around the loop. I'm not planning on completing the loop because of those bison. I just want to go far enough to see if there are deer/pronghorn along the inside of the loop or in the White Rock meadow.

Quiet walk. As I reach the inner loop, I do see a few bison straight ahead to the south towards Elephant Rock.

 I find no critters in the meadow but I do find a lone bison uphill of the trail not too much farther along. He's my stopping point.

On my way back, I meet 2 bikers I met earlier, they mentioned that they saw a huge herd of Pronghorn on the east side of the loop. Dang it! Should have met those bison head on! Oh well!

Time to go home but first, taking the time to watch a Kestrel along the causeway.

Good day!

Nov 22 - Gravel Pit Trail (Antelope Island)

 Sunny day with highs in the mid-40s. It's 25 degrees at my house when my house this morning but the sun still has  not popped up over the mountains.

Heading to Antelope Island to hopefully hike the Sentry Trail. Last time I tried but bison were camped out near the trail.

I arrive on the causeway and it's in the upper 20s with a light wind out of the northwest. Farmington Bay is frozen.

No hawks along the causeway this morning. :(

Traffic stop just before the bridge. I see police lights. The lady in front of me tells me they are filming something and traffic should start moving again in 10 minutes. I'm little grumpy but I'm moving within 10 minutes and passing a group of folks all dressed in black that were waving as I pass by.

There are no bison hanging out behind the Visitor's Center.

But I find a herd of Pronghorn hugging the fence line. :)

As I round the curve, I see a group of 4 or so bison.

Then it isn't until I'm approaching the rocks before the Frary Peak turnoff before I see my next critters - a small herd of bison (~4).

I roll slow past the "deer have" stopping to see a doe and a buck in the grasses.

I continue to the pull-off where I spot a Northern Flicker in the trees.

I continue on passing thru the tail end of a bison crossing. I stop to watch a baby enjoying a scratch on a rock.

I'm nearing the Ranch when I see bison down along the lake bed. 

When I roll up on the Ranch, I see the big bison herd is still hanging out near the Sentry Trail. In fact, there's a group at the trail's parking lot.

I head down to check out the herd and head to the end of the road. Ton's of bison spread out down herd and surprise, there's a herd of Pronghorn!! I count at least 20 of them.

I turn around and head north to the White Rock Trail.

As I near the "deer haven", a large buck crosses the road in front of me and he then head down into the grasses.

Just a bit farther, I see a couple of doe and another large buck. He's tagged and looks as if he has a GPS collar. I wonder why? But he's definitely interested in those doe.

I watch for a while before moving along.

I near the north end of the island, those Pronghorn have just crossed the road and heading toward the lake bed.

I head over to the west side. Lots of bison along the bottom of Bison Point (both sides). 

I park at the White Rock trail head but since I forgot my floppy hat, I decide to just hike the shorter Gravel Pit trail so I backtrack.

When I arrive, I'm the only one there. I gear up and start walking.

Just a quiet trail this morning.

Before I know it, I'm at Beacon Hill enjoying the view.

Time to head back to the car.

Back at the car, I start back to the causeway. 

I can't find the Pronghorn but it's been hours now.

However, I do find a group of Pronghorn directly behind the Visitor's Center. Could this be the same herd from earlier? Perhaps but I'm just not sure.

Good day!

Nov 16 - Dell Reservoir

Sunny with highs near 70 - I have to get out and enjoy it!

Just heading over the foothills/Emigration Canyon the ridge trail. However, when I got there, there was still too much snow for my liking. So, I headed down the other side to Dell Reservoir.

My intent is to just walk the road down to the reservoir but I see the trail is clear and not too muddy so I started down the hill. However, at the bottom, it's way to muddy.

I make it down a side trail to the lake.

And then I continue until I find a side trail heading back to the road -- too slippery, muddy for me!

Back at the road, I reach the parking lot and continue to the lake. On the lake I find a Merganser, a few Shovelers and a big surprise --- Tundra Swans including one immature swan!

How cool is that; my first ever Tundra Swans!!

They migrate thru Utah in Oct/Nov and just the other week, there was news about people finding 5-6 swans dead. Fish & Wildlife was investigating but thought the super strong winds may have played a factor.

Cool day!

Nov 20 - Emigration Ridge Trail

 Sunny day with highs in the 50s. Heading back for an attempt at the Emigration Ridge Trail.

I arrive around 1:30pm. The trail is now clear of snow - yea!

So I start up the trail. Heading just to the big hill.

Everything is dry now (of course) but the dry flowers are nice.

Searching for deer/elk/moose but finding nothing; not even a bird.

Slowly making progress west towards the big hill.

Shot of Salt Valley from the base of the big hill.

Time to head back.

Lovely walk, good exercise.

I need that.

Nov 12 - Gravel Pit (Antelope Island)

 Sunny day with highs in the low 40s.

We had snow in SLC last night so I was expecting snow on the only but there is only a dusting of snow on the mountains - yes, a little disappointed but at least I can keep my feet warmer.

As I cross the causeway, Farmington Bay is frozen. I see a hawk land next to the causeway but he flies as I slow.

There's an opening in the ice around the bridge and it's full of ducks (Shovelers to be exact).

I reach the island and head toward the Ranch; my goal is to hike up Sentry Peak.

There's only a few bison behind the Visitor's Center near the lake bed this morning.

North of Beacon Hill, at the bottom of the downhill, are 18 Pronghorn and they're not far from the road!

I continue past Frary Peak and see a number of cars pulled off in great deer habitat. As I roll by, I see a couple of doe and then moved on.

Then it's not until I reach the Ranch that more animals are in view; a huge herd of bison stretching from the Ranch all the way to Sentry Peak. (No Sentry Peak hike today.)

As I turn into the Ranch's parking, I see a pheasant. Unfortunately, he flies as I roll up.

I stop at the Ranch to check for Owls. There's still leaves on the trees so it 's a little hard but I do manage to find one (yea)!

(And I scare a pheasant.)

I continue back up the island to hike the Gravel Pit to Beacon Hill.

When I reach the deer habitat, there are still many cars. I roll slowly by and spot a buck moving after a doe. Time to stop. He's a big buck and I was him for a while.

Then I turn right and see an even bigger buck.

There's 3 doe by him. I watch (and hear) him rubbing his antlers into some small trees. 

Then he starts moving north towards where the other buck is. Next I see that other buck take off north. I can't see where he goes because of the trees.

The buck hangs around the doe. And as they move, some pheasants fly.

While watching the deer I notice that there's a coyote moving south on the lake bed in back of the deer. Pretty cool.

I never notice him get close but this photo shows that he did!

Time to move on to my hike but not after passing that herd of Pronghorn again. They have move to the other side of the road.

I reach the Gravel Pit trail, gear up and head off.

Quiet hike. No flowers to look; just a lot of brown, dried vegetation.

As I round Beacon Hill, I spot a lone Pronghorn climbing the hill in a distance.

As I get closer, I see another and I spot a small herd of Pronghorn near the trail. 

I also spot a bison moving away from the bison herd (and moving fast).

I slowly approach the herd of Pronghorn slowly.I get pretty close before some panic and head up the hill. I keep approaching and I'm within 100 feet before they calmly move up the hill.

I'm surprised I got that close! Very cool!

I pass them and soon start up the hill myself as I head to the top. I do see them to the north of me for a bit and then I lose them 

I stop briefly at the top - the wind  is cold up here - and it's time to head back.

Back at my car, I head off passing many more bull bison all nested down looking out over Farmington Bay.

Oh, there's a perched Kestrel along the causeway not too far from the entrance (yea!)

Great day!