May 25 - Memorial Day on Antelope Island

Well, yet another on-n-off rainy week-end. Antelope Island is my goal. I know the biting gnats are out (if I'm really lucky, they've been knocked down a bit with all this weird weather) but I need to get out of the house. If this ends up just being a drive, so be it!

I leave SLC in a drizzle and head north. It's sunny to the northwest, cloudy to the east (the Wasatch Mountains). I complete my drive and guess what?! It's actually sunny on the island!!!! There are puffy white clouds around but its sunny!!!!

As I drive across the causeway there's two things that are very noticeable: 1) there's water in the lakes (by no means full but there's water!!!) and its so very green! Very pretty. At the start of the causeway,  the cattle are grazing on the fresh green grasses on the Salt Lake Flats - I've not seen that before. Perhaps the greenness is typical for this time of year (I haven't been here this late in May) OR it could be to all the rain we've received this May (twice the normal amount).

Lots of seagulls flying and flocks of blackbirds. Not a lot of ducks around though.

And the bugs along the causeway are still swarming -- it sounds like raindrops hitting my windshield (splat, splat, splat) -- but a lot messier.

I get across the causeway and head across the northern part of the island to the west side. I make a quick stop at the first parking area and take a quick walk through the still blooming little pink Restem Storkbill flowers (they've been blooming since March) and some pretty orange Globemallows.

And the great thing - no biting gnats!! This would be a perfect day to hike but unfortunately, I've spent my week-end battling a nasty cold so I'm not up for a real hike -- little walks are a yes though.

I make a stop at the Visitors Center -- I see a large Raven chasing 2 brown birds with long curled bills away from the Center. I watch where they land. They certainly look like shore birds but they are not by the shore. Hmm.

I head to the Center -- lots of Barn Swallows flying around. I walk out of the back of the Center to walk the little trail. There's more Swallows and a little brown bird belting out his song from a rock.

I continue along the trail -- I'm hoping to find those birds with the curled bills -- no luck on those birds but I do find a baby rabbit.

I think I find his Mom a little further down the trail. The trail continues further but I turn around. I find the same baby bunny again.

Time to head down the west side of the island. I come around a little S-curve before I get to the beach a scare up two black tipped eared jack rabbits.

I pass the beach and head toward Bison Point (my one little hike of the day - about 1/2 mile). I spot a white spot that looks suspiciously like an antelope in the distance. I stop for a look and yes, it is a pronghorn. He's moving northwest. I continue and notice a bunch of cars pulled off a little ways ahead. I think they're looking at my pronghorn but as I get closer, they are watching 3 pronghorn near the road. I pull up in time to watch them cross the road (trotting)

and head in the direction of my pronghorn.

I leave and head up to Bison Point. Not many people here yet. I head up the south trail, the views towards White Rock Bay are so pretty this morning!

I start heading up Bison Point. I stop at all the benches to enjoy the views.

There are 10 bison below. Most of them laying down, the others eating the fresh vegetation.

I continue up to the top. And walk across the ridge. Many White bflies flying. I watch 4 of them chase each other around. I never get a good look for an ID.

I do spot a blooming Salisfy.

Time to head down, this time down the north side of the trail. I find some cool pink Phlox

and Pink Daisies

and a small yellow composite.

  I also see the seedheads from the Spring Parsley plants -- not what I expected.

I get back down and head across the island back to the east side and head to the Ranch. Since the gnats aren't out, I'm hoping to walk the Sentry Trail to the Springs. Maybe some bflys and dragonflies will be out.

I see a lone pronghorn near the road.

I'm wondering where all the bison are today. Well, they are more than 1/2 way to the Ranch in a Super Herd!! They are on both sides on the road. The ones on the west side are near the road. Lots of babies!

There a 3 babies following one bison -- seems a bit much for one female -- but there are lots of bison around.

And go figure, I see a pronghorn white rump amongst the herd.

The bison on the east side is may be a bit larger in size but is nearer to the water.

I get to the ranch and try the dirt road to the Sentry parking but there's a road closed barrier across one side of the road. Guess I'm not walking to the Springs today. :(

I check for the Great Horned Owls but do not find them -- a little harder to spot with all the leaves now.

Time to head back north.

I stop to look at the Super Herd again

and then head up to the Frary Peak parking. The views are great!

I do find UT Vetch

and mushrooms -- odd thing to find here where it's typically very dry -- but thanks to the May rains.....

Well, its time for my Memorial Day treat, a bison burger. Along the way, I spot another pronghorn.

At the beach, I find what I think are milkweed blooming.

Time to head home. Great day!

And thanks to all the men and women have given their lives for this country and to those who have and continue to protect this country.