Arrive around 9:30 and quickly spot what looks like a pheasant on the Farmington Bay shoreline. Of course, I just catch a glimpse of it as I pass by so I back up and its gone :( so I guess it has to be pheasant.
Looks pretty frosty out. Where's there's water in the Bay, its frozen. No birds of prey flying.
The sun is peeking out creating a nice cloud effect over the Bay.
Just before I get to the end of the causeway (and on island), I notice 2 coyotes on the western shoreline. I pull-off briefly to watch and decide if I go to the first pull-out around the corner I can see them better. So I drive around the corner and park.
The one coyote is still far away, the other is coming down the shoreline in my direction.
I lose him as the vegetation hides him but he's heading toward the causeway. I start my car, swing around and turn onto the causeway and park. (There's a truck who see the coyote and pulls off as well.
The coyote is coming right at the causeway (and my car)
and then turns right to go parallel to the causeway and I lose him. There's not much land between the causeway and the shoreline but the vegetation is hiding him. (There's is a good down the shoreline though.).
Instead of following his partner, the 2nd coyote crosses the road and heads up towards the Visitor's Center. The truck follows. I follow for a few feet but can't see the coyote so I turn around and start my trip down towards the Ranch. (Love those coyotes - always fun to watch.)
Heading south for a few miles and when I round a corner, there's another coyote just starting to cross the road in front of me!! I brake, the coyote panics, turns around really fast and heads into the sagebrush. And disappears. Well that's 3 today and I haven't gone 5 miles!
I continue to head south. It would be really pretty out today if it wasn't foggy and cloudy. The mountains on the island have snow,
the Wasatch Mountains are covered in snow -- it's still an eerie pretty out.
Don't see much until after Frary Peak, there's a few bison crossing the road toward a larger herd a little in the distance. I stop to watch as they are so close. I love hearing them chew.
Lots of birds hanging out with the bison. A few bison are covered in birds. When the birds all decide to fly, it's pretty impressive.
Time to move on.
I see a car pulled off to the side (heading north). I'm looking for animal but see nothing. And the person in the car doesn't seem to be looking in any direction -- simply waving at me. So I continue towards the Ranch.
I see a few more small herds of bison before I get to the Ranch. Actually, quite a few bison visible today on the east side of the island.
Quick stop at the Ranch to find the Owls. Only find the female today.
Since the road to the Sentry Trail is closed, I'm heading to walk the White Rock Trail (assuming the road is now open).
On the way back, I slow down in the spot where I saw the car pulled-off. And surprise!! there's a coyote sitting under the tree looking at me. He must be a young, inexperienced with cars because when I stop, he gets nervous and starts walking around. Fortunately, he doesn't run; instead he starts sniffing around in the vegetation. I think there's something in there that he is eating because I can see him pulling and/or chewing at times. But the confusing thing is that whatever is there isn't in one spot. Maybe there is more than one treat, I'm not sure. I watch for a while before leaving him alone.
The bison have now all crossed the road and are doing what bison do.
Time to head over to the west side and the White Rock trailhead - which is open!!!
I see a couple of bison along way.
It's about 30 degrees/no sun --- I hope I'll stay warm. I start in my normal clockwise direction. There's a single bison ahead but far enough off the trail -- he still stares me down. There's also a group of about 6-7 bison further up, hope they're far enough off the trail too.
The trail is for the most part frozen mud but in spots there's a light dusting of snow still. And the snow yields bison, deer or pronghorn and coyote tracks (as well as human, horse and bicycle). I'm a bit cold and hoping I'll warm up with the climb. (Up, up I go.)
I'm coming up on that small herd bison. They are off the trail but not by much. I go off trail thru the snow to get more of a safe distance between them and I. They are all watching me (and I them). But I get by safely, make my way back to the trail and continue.
The snow is actually pretty interesting. Looks like frozen crystals - cool stuff!
Even the frozen puddles are interesting!
I'm on the downhill now -- still seeing deer/pronghorn & coyote tracks - and coyote scat.
No animals in the valley that I can see except a few bison near the trail below -- hope they don't include the same fiesty one I met last time I walked this trail. I hear some "woofs" - coyotes I assume. They are far away probably near White Rock Bay.
I get to the long stretch back to the trailhead and am keeping watch for those bison.
Better views of the mountains from down here.
I can hear the "woofs" again -- definitely somewhere near the bison. But I don't see anything.
Time to get out of the cold!!
Another great day!!
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