I arrive later than normal (around 11:45am) since the guided tour starts a 1pm. It's supposed to be mostly sunny today (and it is right now) but there are lots of clouds moving in from the Northwest. (It's going to be chillier if there's no sun).
Crossing the causeway didn't look very frosty like last week. The warmer temps have caused most of the remaining snow to melt. However, when I finally get to the stretch of ice-covered Farmington Bay water -- well, it looked like winter.
Since I had time to kill I went around the northern part of the island first and then down the west side past the Visitor's Center and the beach. No animals. I turned and went thru the Bridger Bay campground, no animals. By then it was time to start heading over to the east side and down to the Ranch (where the tour starts).
Scanning for animals along the way and it wasn't until I was past Frary Peak before I saw my 1st herd of bison against the mountains. I am not surprised at the lack of animals 1) it is later in the day than I'm normally here 2) they just rounded up and captured around 100 mule deer this week to relocate to other areas in Utah (herd management) -- I would think that all that activity will freak the animals out just a bit.
There's another bison herd (far way) just before getting to the ranch. And I can see another herd not far from the Sentry Trail. I get to the Ranch and wait in the warmth of my car until its closer to 1pm. It's totally cloudy now -- thanks Mr Weatherman for an accurate forecast. :)
It's about time so I head to the DNR office to wait. The DNR guide for day is the curator and historian for the park.He tells us that there have been some Bald Eagle sightings but not in large numbers. And with the weather this winter being weird and not really cold enough to force the Eagles down from Idaho, no guarantees (that's really true anytime animals are involved).
So we're off with about 20-30 people. I learned a lot from the guide today:
1) Pronghorn were residents on the island before man made the island into both cattle and sheep ranches - the pronghorn were hunted to extinction by the settlers. Pronghorn were re-introduced successfully in 1993. A herd of around 200 exist on the island.
2) Bison were introduced on the island in 1893 quite successfully. The herd is around 500 with the annual Bison round-up and sale maintaining the herd size. This year during the roundup, they rounded up all the bison (usually they don't mess with the old solitary males) but they wanted to see if the herd were genetically pure bison. And they are!!! (And one of those old males weigh-in at 2000 pounds!)
3) Many of the deer and coyote come to the island from the mainland. He said some cross the causeway and others, the mud flats to get to the island. So deer management helps both the island and the mainland. (I would think the island's deer population must have increased a lot of the last 10 years of so as more and more housing developments popped up along the east shore of Farmington Bay driving the deer across -- but that's only my speculation.)
4) The almost terraced landscape on the south side of the Sentry Trail (the north side is flat) was caused by the excavation of dirt from the island for the Hwy 80 extension to the Nevada border in 1976-77. During that time, a 15 mile conveyor belt carried the dirt south for the new highway. The island was privately owned at that time and Indian (and homesteader) artifacts were lost in the process.
5) That I pass Mushroom Springs every time I walked the Sentry Trail - it's where I saw the Yuma Skipper in late summer. Duh!!
6) .....
The man was a wealth of information to say the least.
As we walked up the Sentry Trail, we could see that there was a herd of bison nearby but couldn't tell if there were eagles. But as we got closer, no eagles. Kinda disappointing but wildlife are never predictable -- but I know where to find them now. The guide said this was the first time in 10yrs that he didn't see one on the tour --- always nice to be part of the first! :)
The bison were far enough away to not be a threat but many of them were looking at us as we approached. We waited around listening to some great stories about the island, the animals etc. And then people started heading back little by little (including myself).
When I got back to the Ranch, I had to go find the Owls. Heard they were in a different location (and they should be nesting really soon - Feb). I did find them. Found the male first and the female was one tree over. Both in trees overlooking the little water hole.
Time to head back. Maybe I'll see some animals on the way back.
I spot some white moving thru the sagebrush and stop for a look. Yep, 4-5 pronghorns!!! A little hard to see (and somewhat far away) - but their white butts and orange/tan color stick out among the sagebrush.
One had some odd antlers. The horn usually comes up straight and curves back (like and upside down J) but this antelope's horns were shaped like an S. The antelope are slowly grazing towards the road but it will take them quite awhile to get there so after watching for a while, I move on.
Next I find a coyote moving through the grasses. The same spot I saw the skiddish coyote last week. We stare at each other for a while and then he starts moving north.
I move my car up ahead of him and wait. He finally starts trotting north (more into my view) and then a car goes by. The coyote gets frightened and runs into the tall grasses out of sight. (Still think he's a young one not familiar with cars and people.)
Keep moving down the island and see 2 black masses in the trees. I saw one last week - thought it might be a porcupine but didn't back up to see. Today, I stop, backup, and look through my camera -- porcupine!!!!!
He's eating. Very cute with his mouth and hands moving. (I hope I get a good shot, I'm on super-zoom.) I watch him for a bit and then backup some more to check out the other black mass only a couple trees away. It's another porcupine!!! Can't believe I've seen 2 in one day!! Wonder if they are a couple.
I'm on the last leg before I reach the causeway and notice a bunch of cars pulled over. There's a herd of mule deer (about 15) behind the Visitor's Center. I stop to watch. I'm really surprised to see them - thought they'd all be hiding after the round-up. There are 2 buck - a 6-pointer and a 4-pointer.
They were happily feeding until some folks at the Visitor's Center decided to get too close and the deer moved off a little south. OK, you scared the deer, stop and watch but no, the people continued to try to get closer - continuing to move the deer herd. And one of them decided it was fun to run at the deer and made them run -- Grrrrrr!!!! The deer ran over the top of the ridge and out of sight. (And the people continued to walk after them -- I would have loved to have found a DNR guy to chase those idiots down.)
Anyway, what an amazing trip back! Even saw that bird of prey flying along the causeway -- definitely not a hawk -- thinking Kestrel (a lot of grey).
Great day as always!
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