Feb 10 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

 Sunny day with highs around 40 degrees - finally a nice Friday to take a hike!!

Heading up to Antelope Island; thinking about doing the Sentry Trail despite a still sore heel and right hip (pull muscle or maybe sciatica).

It's in the low 20 when I arrive on the causeway. Still very frozen as it's been nothing but cold. 

After I cross the bridge and see all the ducks, I see a young Bald Eagle out on the ice. Definitely caught a duck this morning. (I get to see him flap his wings!)

A bit farther, there's another Bald Eagle. He's a bit closer to the causeway and he too has a duck.

Hey, there is a Tundra Swan out there as well! I've never seen a swan here before - lucky day!

I arrive on the Island and head south towards the Ranch. 

There are no bison around the Visitor's Center this morning.

It's not until across from Frary Peak til I see my next critter, a Pheasant. He perched on a tree branch. Unfortunately, he flies before I can take a photo.

There's a porcupine nearby.

I continue on and it's not until about 1 mile from the Ranch before I see two Pronghorn - yea!

And not more than 100 yards south is a small herd of Pronghorn - ~7 of them. They are in the same location as the bigger herd last Saturday.

I arrive at the Ranch w/o seeing a bison - a bit disappointing.

I decide try and find the Owls. I try the barn but no Owls. And the gate to the forested area is still closed so I decide to start my hike

Thankfully, the area is free of snow but I'll be running in it at some point (probably the switchback) on this hike.

About 1/2 down the road, I spot a coyote to the east. 

Nope there are 2 coyotes!

The one starts moving in my direction. I stand and watch as both cross the road ahead of me 

and continue moving west towards the mountains stopping briefly.

When I lose sight of them, I continue on.

I reach the trail head and start East towards Sentry Peak. Very quiet not much of a wind to even listen to.

I pass Mushroom Spring and start the climb to the switchback. About 1/2 up, I start running into snow - just a inch or two.

I reach the switchback and it is covered in snow. I guessing 3-4 inches. I spot for a listen and can hear a coyote in the distance.

I walk along the switchback trying to decide whether I will try to make it to the ridge because I'm already in snow and I know there'll be deeper snow as I climb higher.

At one point along the switchback I see lots of hoof prints coming up the hill and on the trail -- a Pronghorn group has move through at some point.

I reach the end of the switchback and see a lone coyote (#3) moving west. He may be one of the 2 I saw earlier or perhaps a new one but I lose him as he moves of the hill.

I stop to decide whether I want to continue. It's a great day, the snow is still crusty but I have a sore heel/hip...maybe next week when it's a bit more melted out.

Time to head back.

It's actually a good thing I turned back as the return trip is getting muddy.

I'm on the last stretch back to the road when I spot another coyote ahead of me. Nope, there's 2! They are actually moving east; they are south of me. I watch them until they reach the trail where it starts uphill.

5 coyote today -- pretty darn good.

I'm almost to the road, when I look south and see that small herd of Pronghorn that I saw earlier. They are moving south.

I pass them as I move south back to the Ranch.

Great hike! Time to head north.

I'm looking for bison but this is the 1st time I have never saw a bison on the Island! I thought about looking on the West side but not today.

The drive out along the causeway yields one hawk and 2 Kestrels!

Awesome day!