Feb 4 - Gravel Pit to Beacon Hill (Antelope Island)

 Sunny and 16 degrees this morning. My plan was to hike towards Mill D South mine but it's too cold - brr! Heading to Antelope Island instead when it's still cold but I can hike in the sun.

I reach the causeway before 8:30. Still tons of ducks just before the island (some are in what appears to be a fog - strange)

and I see 1 Bald Eagle out there.

I reach the island and head towards the Ranch.

Again, the first sign of critters are bison a 1 or 2 from the Ranch. They are right off the road.

And there's another larger herd to the west of the overflow parking lot and more bison behind the Ranch - no looking for Owls today!

Time to head north.

Behind the trees (and very hidden) across from Frary Peak, I see 1 bison laying.

I'm sure there are probably a couple more in there because there were a few here on Sunday.

And surprise, on the north end of the Beacon Hill mountainside is a lone Pronghorn!!

I reach the road to the Gravel Pit trail, park and start across the parking lot to the trail head. I'm surprised that the trail is still snow-covered. We had an inch or two of lake effect snow yesterday but I thought it would be melted already. Oh well, snowy hike today!

As I walk toward the very short uphill out of the Gravel Pit, I see another lone Pronghorn!! 

As I walk closer, he takes a jog northward and stops to watch me. I'm mean no harm really. He continues to slowly move north then stopping to watch me and then repeat. 

Once out of the pit, it's south for me to Beacon Hill.

Beautiful morning!

There are 6 bison west of the trail but they are far enough away to be no  bother to me.

Then it's quiet all the way to Beacon Hill.

Oh, I cross many Pronghorn/Deer trails -- I suspect they are Pronghorn because the deer have been missing for Antelope Island since early Fall - I don't know where they are.

There are also other critter tracks in the snow.

And I see a few Horned Larks.


Nice view from Beacon Hill!

Time to head back to my car and start home.

Back at the causeway, I look for Bald Eagles (quickly) but find a Coyote crossing the road with a duck in its mouth. I stop and get out of my car hoping to spot the coyote in the sagebrush below me. I do catch a glimpse before he disappears. (I did get his ears!!!)


This is a guy with a camera who probably saw the whole hunt -- that would have been so cool.

Continuing across the causeway, I spot a Kestrel and a Bald Eagle far out on the ice on the Farmington Bay side.

Good day!

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