Sept 22 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

 Sunny day in the low 70s; perfect day for a change of pace and head up to Antelope Island for the 1st time since Spring. So ready for a change of pace :)

I arrive just before 8am. Landscape is still in the shade of the mountains but as I cross the causeway, I quickly spot a lone coyote heading east along the Farmington Bay lakebed. Very cool!

As I'm about to continue, just to the west of the coyote, two more coyotes pop up and start running to catch up. I'm assuming these are pups because they are playing as they are moving along.

Great start to my day.

Moving on, it's so nice to see water along both sides of the causeway even after a very hot and dry summer. And with the water means tons of shorebirds - perfect for the Fall migration that's probably already started. Love it!

I reach the Island and I'm greeted by the burn scar (from earlier this summer) behind the VC. Lucky place for it to have started; only downside would have been if a north wind had been blowing. (Oh, the VC is concrete.)

I wasn't expecting to see any animals nearby but just a tad south of the burn scar were 2 bison.

I continue south to the Ranch.

Coming down from the 1st pull-off was a small herd of bison crossing the street just downhill of the Burrowing Owl burrows.

I did not see any Owls.

Continuing on, in the White Rock area, a bigger herd is crossing the road - all moving towards the lake bed. 


I heard a pheasant at one of the bison crossings.

Even farther down the road, I get stopped again by another herd of bison crossing the road. This herd still has a little red mixed in!

I'm approaching the Ranch and there's another big herd of bison already on the lakebed. Must be the place to be today. (I think it's the mossies as I got a few in my car while watching the crossing with my windows down.)

I check for deer as head to the Sentry Trail parking but find none. 

I parked but I'm not sure if I'm hiking because if the mossies are bad, I'm coming back. I gear up and start up the trail. So far so good!

Nice to be back in wide open spaces again. There's a nice breeze blowing which feels a little cool but after a hill climb, it'll feel good.

There's nothing around. It's pretty quiet and very few flowers. Not sure where all the usual sunflowers are along this trail. I do a couple of Sulphurs.

I start up the first climb checking for critters along the way but nothing. But my hip is bothering me so this might be a short hike.

I reach the switchback and start across already knowing once I cross that's where I'm ending. Too much "on my knees, catching position while painting Fri/Sat".

Once at the other end, I turn for the return. 

I do spot a lone Pronghorn on the return.

And what is probably a CA Tortoiseshell.

And a few more Sulphurs. (lots of moths today).

Back at the car, I head back north. All the bison are on the shoreline.

Just past the 1st pull-off, I stop to see some Pelicans.

And I stop on the causeway for some Black-necked Stilts.


Boy, Antelope Island sure welcomed be back today - 3 coyotes, 3 bison crossing (and 4 big herds) and a Pronghorn. 

Awesome day!

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