Setp 28 - Gravel Pit to Beacon Hill (Antelope Island)

 Sunny with temps near 90 degrees today. Not a usual day for a valley hike but I noticed yesterday that temps (despite ending up near 90) were only 70 at noon. So instead of heading for the mountains, I'm heading to Antelope Island where it'll be about 5 degrees cooler.

I left the house around 7am. When I arrive at the Island, it's in the mid-50s and 1/2 the causeway is still in the shade.

Crossing the causeway I spot a coyote. He's racing south from near the causeway. Not sure why the sprint there's no one around. He finally stops - yea!

Tons of birds along both side of the causeway - as I said last week, awesome to see!

I arrive on the Island and head south. 

I pass thru a small herd of bison at the V.

Then the car in front of me scares a flock of Chukkars just before the 1st pull-out.

It's quiet until Frary Peak when I spot a herd (maybe 5-6) of deer on the west side of the road. This is exciting as deer the last few years have been scarce in sightings. There's probably a male in there somewhere but I just can't find him as their heads are mostly down.

Continuing on it's quiet. I arrive at the Ranch where there's along herd just south near the lakebed edge. There's also a smaller herd in the meadow just north of the Sentry Trail. Probably safe for a hike but these bison have been on the move so I'll pass today. It's the Gravel Pit today!

I turn around and head back north.

As I approach the area of the deer, they are now crossing the road towards the lake bed. And yes, there is a buck!! A small one for Antelope Island but he has a harem.

Approaching the uphill before the 1st pull-out and there's a herd of bison moving south. They are east of the Burrowing Owl burrows.

I roll into the Gravel Pit parking and I'm the only car for hiking/biking. There are a couple of guys using the Archery range. Nice to see that people are actually using it.

As I'm about to get out of my car, I see a Pronghorn head of me grazing. Nice! (I got the Big 4 today!!)

I gear up and start up the trail thinking I'm going to scare him off because he's not far (30-40 ft) off the trail. As I near, I spot a 2nd (female) Pronghorn slowly moving towards the male. I stand and watch to see if there's an interaction. Nope! 

So I moving along the trail and pass right by; they just continued to eat. Probably only the 2nd or 3rd times I've gotten so close.

Lot of little moths flying today.

Then it's up the hill and into wide open spaces. And yea, not a bison in sight!

Nor are there many cars down at the White Rock TH - strange but I'll take it. I does look like there are some bison along the road to the TH.

No sunflowers along this trail either. But there are little yellow occasionally. (And there's a nice wind I'm walking into.)

Soon I'm climbing up and arriving at the Beacon Hill viewpoint. Awesome!

I take a rest enjoying the views and the sound of the wind.

Time to head down.

Well, I was worried about getting cut-off by bison on the Sentry Trail. But when I finally get a view of the Gravel Pit parking, I see a large herd of bison passing thru the area heading south. Not sure where they came from but they are on the move. Hoping they continue to move otherwise I'll have to go off-trail to get around them.

I quickly lose sight of them and keep my fingers crossed.

When I finally get another view just before I start heading into the Pit, the bison are gone. Only footprints and poop are left.  Amazing!

Oh I see a Common Checkered Skipper!

Awesome day! Lovely weather, got the Big 4, bison crossings....

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