March 11 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

 Sunny day with highs in the mid-40s before our next storm rolls in later in the day.

Heading up to Antelope Island to once again try to get up the Sentry Trail. We had a warm week so I'm hoping enough snow has melted to make this doable in my eyes.

It's a cool morning at 26 degrees. But the skies are clear and the mountains snowy.

I arrive on the causeway around 8am. I'm surprised it looks so frozen. I know it's in the 20s but we were in the 50s yesterday.

No Kestrels, hawks or Bald Eagles as I cross. Actually there are no ducks since it's mostly ice. They are probably out in deeper water.

For the first time in a couple of weeks, there are no bison behind the Visitor's Center except for 3 bulls at the south - west intersection.

And good news, lots of snow has melted. Good for hiking but it also means more mud.

I head south towards the Ranch.

Across from Frary Peak, I see a large hawk and a Porcupine.

In the flats where the Pronghorn have been hanging out the last couple, I see 2 Pronghorn

Oh and there's another 2 not far away.

I arrive at the Ranch and think about checking for Owls but I see 2 men heading over with big cameras so I'll pass and just start towards the trail.

The road is wet but frozen so easy walking. On the way to the trail head, I heard that Owl call 5 times - chatting bird this morning!

No deer or coyote this morning. :(

Soon I'm at Mushroom Springs and then heading uphill. Yep, there's now only a few patches of snow on my way to the switchback. 

And the switchback is clear until about 1/2 way across and then it's snow covered with 3-4 inches. But it's frozen at this point.

I reach the end of the switchback 

and start uphill again towards the loop. I'm thinking the left (south) part of the loop should be clearer due to more sunlight but I need to trudge thru snow to get there.

I'm hearing Chukkars calling but can't see any.

When I reach the loop, I'm looking at snow covered trail on both sides of the loop. 

The left loop does not even have a footprint on it. The right side does have prints. Hmmm, do I want to continue uphill thru the snow. It is a beautiful day but... I'll wait another week. Just not feeling of trudging thru a half mile'sh of that. At least, I made it farther today!

Time to head back.

I'm about at my car and I hear a Kildeer. It takes me a while but I do find her.

I reach my car and continue back to the north side of the Island. Once there, I decide to check to see if there are bison on the West side. The answer is Yes. There are 2 herds (probably 5 each) behind the VC. Around 4 just above the Bridger Bay Campground.

A small herd in the meadow to the east of Bison Point and a larger (but not that big) around the corrals. So yes, there's a good number of bison hanging out on the west side.

It's getting baby season and I wonder if they will be birthing babies close to the road this year. Note: the biggest part of the herd is not visible to me today.

Good day!