March 18 - White Rock Trail (Antelope Island)

 Partly cloudy day with highs in the mid 50s.

Heading up to Antelope Island this morning for a dry hike. Because of recent snowfall, the once dry locals trails are muddy - hate mud!

Hiking White Rock today -- not even driving to the Ranch. There were bison on the ridge on Saturday and I'm hoping they moved into the meadow - just looking for babies.

When I arrive, there is one bison near the intersection with the road to the west.

Crossing over the ridge, there is a herd bison scattered in the meadow behind the Visitor's Center.

I arrive at the White Rock trail head, there is a lone bison grazing thru the campsite area but none in the White Rock meadow -- clear sailing this morning.

It's around 42 degrees when I start.

Still pretty quiet bird was -- they'll soon be singing.

The Bisquitroot is in bloom now  as are the little pink flowers.

Those 5 bison I ran into by the fence line a few weeks back are still there.

And I have to take a detour around them again.

Approaching the trail to Beacon Hill, my friend the Pronghorn has moved on.

And there are no bison in the meadow. :(

I reach the White Rock ridge, and there are no bison down the east side either. Not sure where they moved off too.

On the inner trail, I see the Death Camas are popping out of the ground

There are also a few beetles and the first lizard of the year!!

I have about completed the loop when I hear a bunch of Chukkars in the rocks but I cannot find them.

Then it's downhill. Along the final straight section, I hear coyotes howling, yipping behind me and not very far away. I turn and scan but can't anything.

As I continue on, I hear a faint coyote sounds to the north. Followed by howling and yipping behind me. I stop and scan again but still nothing. :)

Back at my car, I pass that bison still hanging out and then decide to check for Burrowing Owls behind the Visitor's Center.

Yea, there's one!

Awesome day!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

jan 16 - White Rock Trail (a part of it anyway) (Antelope Island)

Image
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...
Read more

May 27 - Mormon Trail

Image
 Mostly sunny day with temps in the mid-80s. Time to get out before the bottom falls out over the 3 day Memorial Day week-end. Heading to the Mormon Trail for my 1st hike of the season. Excited (and curious how muddy I'm going to get trying to reach the new entrance. When I arrive, I'm the only car in the lot. There's pallet of pipe in the parking lot - curious what they will be doing -- hopefully re-routed this beaver dammed water off the trail (I can only hope). I cross the bridge and pleasantly surprised the trail is dry (not usual for this time of year). But I don't have to go far and there's a stream of flowing water; back to the alternate trail up the hill. When I get to the top, I hear Sandhill Crane calling. I look up and there's a lone Sandhill flying towards me and then over. What an awesome start!! It's in the mid-60s and mostly sunny but there are lots of clouds. I'm hoping this isn't a bust as far as butterflies. I'll soon find out. ...
Read more

Jan 14 - Little Dell Reservoir

Image
 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...
Read more