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!