April 9 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

 Happy Easter!

Sunny day with highs near 60 degrees - yes, it's finally warming up after the 13 inches of snow on Tues/Wed!!!

Had Friday off; it was a nice day but still 1/2 foot of snow on the ground. Saturday again a great day but decided to let it continue to melt. But today, it's time to head back out again.

Along the causeway, the water along the causeway it rising. In fact the little bridge along the causeway is backing flowing water.

Tons of birds along the causeway.

I reach the Island and head south towards the Ranch.

I pass a few bison behind the VC.

There's a few more near the lake bed before the fence and a few more in the rocks around the curve.

I slow on the downhill section from the pull-out and see a single Burrowing Owl. He was perched on the house but when I pull off the road, he jumped down. My 1st sighting of the year!

Just downhill near the pull-out are 4 bison but I can see a larger herd across the meadow to the southeast. 

Even as I get closer to that herd, I look but cannot find any little Reds. :(

There's a lone bison moving north just north of the Frary Peak road.

No other critters before the roadside potty except for 2 lone Pronghorn sprinting north along the roadside.

I reach the Ranch and Wow! there's a bunch of cars here already and it's only 8:15am. A lot of people out on this Easter morning!

It's 46 degrees and sunny! No need for a jacket today! (Finally!) 

I gear up and start up the trail

The road is pretty dry but there are a few muddy and snowy spots.

I'm hearing Meadowlark and Horned Larks calling.

As I'm walking towards Mushroom Springs, I see to ultra-lites in the air. Hope they don't scare off any critters.

I also see 2 dark spots, I think they are bison. As I near the Springs, I confirm they are bison and one is walking to my trail as it head uphill.

I continue towards them. The one is about 30 yards from the trail, I should head up hill now but I continue walking towards them. They are watching me but tails are down. I decide to risk it and pass them by. Success!

Hoping they move on before I come down.

I am glad I didn't come on Friday. It's pretty wet the higher I go; that was all snow on Friday.

I reach the switchback. There's small bird singing her/his song! 

Again pretty mud with snowy spots. As I cross I look to see if I'm being spied on by the 2 Pronghorn that have been up there the last 2 weeks. But they have moved on.

I reach the loop. Despite the snowfall, there's less snow than last week. I start up keeping my eyes open for Bighorn Sheep.

Hearing lots of Chukkars.

I reach the ridge and no sheep in sight.

I take a short break and start across the ridge. I still don't know how I missed those Bighorn. I'm thinking perhaps they were heading up to the ridge but I was there. That's the only way!

I reach the other side and start down, cross the switchback (that little bird is still singing) and start down the final stretch. I spot one of those bison laying right along the trail. Time for a work around.

I head down the road towards Mushroom Springs and then head down hill off trail. 

I see my first Spring Parsley in bloom but I don't spot - I feel guilty going off trail.

I sync up with the trail and head to my car spotting a Mourning Cloak flying across the dirt road.

On the way back, I see a lone bison moving south after the potty on the mountainside. And I spot a large herd of bison part way up the mountain. There's little Red!!

Those bison south of the Owl have move a bit. I do find little Red in the herd!

I see no Owls but there's a bunch of bison on the ridge over the Gravel Pit trail.

Awesome day!