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!