Feb 13 - White Rock Trail (Antelope Island)

 Sunny day with temps in the 50s.

Heading up to Antelope Island to hike either White Rock or Sentry Peak; I'll decide when I get there.

In the 30s when I arrive on the causeway.

Still lots of ducks near the island but I do not see any Bald Eagles this morning. (And there are zero cars parked near the ducks so there must not be Bald Eagles around this morning.)

I do, however, find a coyote out on the ice. There's a large object next to him -- too big for a duck so I'm not sure what it is. But there looks to have been a successful near near that coyote. 

(Looking at the photos, that large object is another coyote. My guess is a mated pair; it is nearing Spring after all.)

I arrive on the island and head south. I'm thinking of hiking Sentry Peak but a State Park Ranger turns and heads in the direction of the Ranch (i.e., Sentry Peak) so it's White Rock. I haven't hiked the full trail in months so it should be good.

There are no animals behind the Visitor's Center, around Bison Peak, or around the initial part of the White Rock Trail -- smooth sailing.

A good number of folks are already here before 9am. I gear up and start up the trail.

When I reach the top of the switchback, I hear a bunch of Chukkars but I can't find them. (Busy birds today as I hear them in 2 other spots on my hike.)

I continue on and spot a lone bison in the distance. 

He's no threat to me but I'm betting there are others somewhere nearby. And when the fence line comes into view so do 2 large dark "rocks" which happened to be bison. They are very near the trail - crap!

I continue on slowly trying to figure out what to due when a guy on a bike passes by. I ask him to scare the bison away. It seems he hadn't seen the bison until I mentioned it and his reply was "They are too close to the trail." Yep.

He slows and I follow but from a distance. The guy stops several times and then looks over his shoulder. Can't tell if he's really afraid to ride by or he is afraid because I'm nearby and maybe a casualty of a scared bison. 

I finally decide to go off trail and around and just after I take a few steps, the guy picks up his bike and heads off trail as well.

We go around and then start right back up the trail without issues.

Quite a few Horned Larks flying around.

Quiet walk and until I start around Peak when I stop a lone Pronghorn. He definitely sees me and when I get too close for his liking, he trots south which ironically is the same direction I'm heading. So I'm following him. We repeat this 3-4 times before the trail leads me east leaving the Pronghorn in peace. That was fun!! :)

But before I turn that corner, I spot a lone bison in the distance to the west and moving west.

Then its down the ridgeline 

and to the interior trail. Always hope to see deer or antelope on the hillsides but nothing today.

Then it's back to my car and along the causeway.

I find the 2 coyotes still on the ice. They looks like brown lumps in the distance. In front of them, is a Bald Eagle (yea!).


There is also a Kestrel on a sign as I near the entrance.

Awesome day!

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