The 2022 Utah Adventure

 Mostly sunny with highs in the 30s. And it snowed last night; at least, at my house. Only an inch or two, but it's still snow. It's been over 2 weeks since we've seen any. Heading up to Antelope Island hoping to catch some snow on bison this morning. Unfortunately, as I reach the causeway, there's a fog layer ahead - boo! But it's still beautiful with the fresh new snow layer. I find my Rough Legged Hawk in her usual spot on a now snowy log. Almost at the island, thru the fog, I see 3 Bald Eagles (all adults) and a bunch of Ravens on the Salt Lake side. Looks like someone got a duck for breakfast. Tons of ducks along the shore line. And some are packed in tight (just like last week). Wonder why they pack in so close. I find no bison around the Visitor's Center this morning. As I approach White Rock Ridge area, it's a view that partially sunny and clear and part foggy. And I see a truck off the side of the road with a huge camera lens. I stop to look and ins...

Sunny, hazy day with temps in the low 40s. Heading to Antelope Island this morning. Not quite sure what I'm hiking but it'll be something. I reach the gate just after 8am. It's 21 degrees!!! As I cross, I see two Rough Legged Hawks. One on its normal perch.  The other is a bit east -- this one looks like a Rough Legged Hawk. I also see what I think are several Bald Eagles in the same location with a coyote moving west from that location.  But on close inspection, it's one Bald Eagle (mature) with a bunch of Crows/Ravens trying to scavenge some pieces of duck from it. Closer to the island, there are tons of ducks on the Salt Lake side. And boy are they packed in on the shoreline! I can see Norther Shovelers and Green-winged Teal. But there's probably more. I reach the island and decide to not hike White Rock and head down towards the Ranch. I think I see a bison just south of the Ranch but with the haze, sun, glare in my eyes, I really can't tell. Then it's o...

 Sunny, hazy day with temps in the 40s.  Got out of work around 1:30 and headed out of the inversion for a short hike at Little Dell Reservoir. About 37 degrees when I arrive and a bit hazy (but so much better than the Valley). The reservoir is open on the north end but frozen on the south. Hard to get a good view with the sun and haze. Started the "normal" trail down towards the water. Snow packed and a bit slick but not too bad to get down the hill. About 6 or so inches of snow on the ground. Then it was the path towards the "potty" about 1.25miles away. Trail is snow packed and I'm looking for critters or tracks. I do find old bunny tracks,  hear one Chickadee and on the last stretch from the bridge to the potty saw moose tracks.  But no animal sightings. Along the road, I found turkey tracks  and moose poop. Good hike. (Oh, on Tuesday as I was rolling my garbage can back to my house, I saw a smaller hawk fly into my neighbor bush. The many song birds that we...

 Sunny with highs near 50 degrees - can't ask for a better day in January. Things change tonight as a cold front rolls thru for more seasonal temperatures. I start across the causeway around 8:30am -- it's 37 degrees with a very light wind. As I cross, there's what looks like a different hawk on the perch the Rough Legged Hawk usually sits. (It has a white breast. Unfortunately, he flies before I can get a good look. :( I reach the island and turn south towards the Ranch. Again, no bison behind the Visitor's Center but I do find what I believe is a Prairie Falcon - awesome! The rest of the drive to the Ranch is critter-free - yes, not even a single bison. It's a 1st in 9 nine year! Wow! Actually, that's no quite true as I do see a Kestrel and a juvenile Bald Eagle. And a coyote trotting north along the lake bed across from the outhouse. (I saw one here a few weeks ago.) I'm also confused as this Winter, I have seen hardly any Porcupine, Pheasant or Deer. Not...

Happy New Year! For this first day and hike of the 2022, I'm braving the temperatures in the teens and heading up to Antelope Island. Planning on hiking the Gravel Pit to Beacon Hill trails. It's around 12 degrees when I start crossing the causeway. There's a few clouds in the sky but looks to be a blue sky day! The flags at the gate were stagnant which is awesome on this very cold morning. Far less snow here then down in Salt Lake. As I cross, I spot a Kestrel the Rough Legged Hawk (in his usual spot) and 2 Bald Eagles out on the Farmington Bay ice. The one has snagged himself a duck! I arrive on the island (the flag here is unfortunately blowing) and head south towards the Ranch. Again no bison around the Visitor's Center and I don't see bison until after the Frary Homestead. It's a small herd of bison. Part of the herd is crossing over the road. There's a Fall baby with them. Once across, they take off jogging to other bison feeding in some sagebrush. The...