Dec 24 - Antelope Island

 Sunny but cold this morning with temps in the 20s.

Crossing the causeway, everything is frosty or frozen.

No luck on the Bald Eagles this morning but I do spot a Kestrel.

I reach the island and head south towards the Ranch stopping for a Kestrel behind the Visitor's Center.

Quiet until I see a Porcupine across from Frary Peak. Since there's no one around, I stop and walk down to take a peek.

Hey, he's feeding - way cool!!!

So cool to see his hands moving!

I move on, passing another Porcupine not that far away.

Continuing on, I catch sight of a herd of Pronghorn to the west. They're pretty hidden behind the tall grasses but they are there.

I also find a decent sized bison herd not far from the Ranch.

I pull up at the Ranch and I'm happy to see that the bison seem to have moved on - I can hike Sentry Peak today!

But first, I stop to look for Owls. I do find a puffed out Northern Flicker 

and some brown bird with long legs in the water (Virginia Rail?)

Then I start my walk toward the trail head. Along the way I see a little herd of doe laying in the grasses. I can see steam coming out of their noses.

As I pass, a few of them stand.

I also see a buck 

and what look like a doe in the distance -- the "doe" is actually a small buck. 

As I move closer to the trail head, I see that there are bison laying near Mushroom Springs -- no Sentry Trail today. :(

I head back to my car (after another check for Owls) and head north.

I see a black dot along the shoreline. I spot because it's out of place. Hey, it's moving... coyote! And he's running north.

That herd of Pronghorn are harder to see on the return as they are now laying.

I spot for that 2nd Porcupine. He's not eating but he's awake!!

I stop at the lower Frary Peak trail and walk up to the trail - just for some exercise. - and walk around a point looking for rabbits - no luck.

Time to head home -- good day!