April 28 - White Rock Trail (Antelope Island)

 Sunny day with highs near 70 degrees.

I got my 40 hrs in and heading towards Antelope Island by 7:20 am.

As I cross the causeway, I stop for some Ibis

and Black-necked Stilt

And others.

The eastern part of Farmington Bay does not look at nice as before (probably because it hasn't rained in a few days and there's a north wind) but the Salt Lake improves everyday. And so does the northwestern part of Farmington Bay. Love it!

I arrive on the Island (no bison in sight) and head directly to the White Rock trail. Plenty of bison on the west side especially in the southeast corner once I cross over.

As I pull in the parking area, the only bison I see are above the trail as you start the loop so it looks to be a good hike.

It's in the low 50s as I start up the trail.

The Death Camas is getting taller and just inside the gate, a few actually have the only buds I see all the Camas I see on the trail.

I do find a caterpillar crossing the trail; hope he makes it without getting crushed.

Oh, the Vetch is in bloom now!

Soon I'm starting the loop and I find a Curlew poking around.

At some point, I cross under those bison; I have no idea when because of the landscape. But I do find them as I pass them to the east.

Continuing onward, I do spot bison along the Gravel Pit trail. There are a few that look like they are farther from tail but then other group of 6-7 appear closer. And they are because there are two hikers that go around them and it's apparent that they don't give the bison enough room. I swear I was going to see a bison take out a lady as the bison did a really fast 3 hop step towards her. Amazingly the lady didn't budge. Wow! Anyway, it was all at a distance for me so maybe it wasn't as bad as i looked to me.

Passing lots of Bisquitroot and green vegetation. Looks great!

Soon I'm rounding Beacon Hill. No bison or Pronghorn today.

In fact, there are no critters in White Rock meadow either! I guess it was time to introduce the baby bison to the east side of the Island! And I do see a large grouping of tiny black dots in front of Frary Peak (west side of the road).

I cross the ridge and start along the inner trail. I soon spot a couple of bison on the far south side of the longer trail. They are uphill a little bit though.

The inner trail has "pinked" up - very pretty for invasive plants.

There what I call wasps flying now. I see a couple of beetles but no lizards or butterflies today. Well I do see what I think might be a Checkered skipper (small, white/black) but it just flies by.

When I get to the west side, the water's edge is now just past the western edge of the White Rock and the beach continues to get smaller. I guess the 50 millions of snowmelt a day is definitely making a difference. The lake is up over 3.5 feet already. Keep it flowing!!

I do run into a couple of small patches of bug as I approach the end of the western pointing trail. They're coming.

Back at the car and head home. The causeway is a mass of swirling tornados of Midges. My windshield looks awful! This may be my last hike on the Island until Fall. :(

But it was a good one!