Aug 8 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

Today is only supposed to be 80 degrees (yea!). What a great day to revisit my favorite place in UT - Antelope Island. Looking to walk the Sentry Trail.

The day is mostly sunny but there are still a few clouds a bout.

I get to the island just after  9am. The drive down the causeway was .... well very brown/dry looking. Brown vegetation and brown Farmington Bay lake bottom and not much water on the Salt Lake side either. But we had big storms last night so there were large puddles around.

Of course, the further down the causeway I drove, I can see water in the Salt Lake. Took a long time to see water in the bay.

I get towards the end of the causeway and there are thousands and thousands of birds in the Salt Lake. Tons of black ducks, gulls, shorebirds etc. I've never seen so many - I wonder what is bringing them all in. I decide to stop and look on my way out - time to start hiking!

I head down towards the ranch. I see a decent sized herd of bison just before Frary Peak. They are up on a hill right under the White Rock Trail ridge. There about 50 bison -- there may be more over the ridge.

A little further along in a field of little brown grasses are two bison -- one is standing and the other is laying down. Dark brown spots in the middle of waving tan grasses.

That's all the wildlife I see before starting the trail.

On the first stretch of the trail (before Mushroom Springs) I'm seeing many Sulphers flying. Some are in really bad shape - missing parts of wings - I'm not sure how they are flying.

I see a dirty looking white bfly -- it's a beaten up Western White. Also flying are beautiful Melissa Blues.

I stop at the portion of Springs near the trail (it's just run-off) - there's no water and it's not very muddy despite the rains. But I see some Cabbage Whites, more Sulphers and the Melissa Blues flying. And dragonflies - many of them.

I start making my way up the hill. At some point I'm high enough to see a small bison herd below. I could not see them at the start of the trail because they are in a little valley.

I'm seeing lots of grasshoppers and lizards. Oh my were there lizards! Lots of smaller ones -- must've just "hatched" recently. Not sure where the adults are.

There's also a funny looking bee flying. He has neon eyes.

Lots of deer/antelope hoof prints on the wet trail but no animals. The prints have to be pretty fresh (i.e., after the rain last night) or they would be washed away.

I see a Grey Hairstreak resting on a plant.

Further along, I happen to look up (just checking for animals) and I see the head of an antelope peering over the ridge.

I get a quick look before he turns - then I see his white rump, he jumps and then he is gone. I'll keep my eye out for him as I climb higher.

I finally get to the top - wonderful views as always.

On the way down, I see a Western Branded Skipper.

And still many lizards but there are some bigger ones out now. And it looks like a couple of different species.

Further along, I can see the bison herd below is still in the same location and, I didn't notice them before, there's a decent size herd almost across from me on the Farmington Bay flats. How did I miss them before?!

And the bay, there's hardly any water -- it was low last year, it's barely there this year -- we need a big snowfall winter badly!

I get back to the Springs and check again for butterflies. I see Mylitta and Field Crescents, more Melissa Blues and many Cabbage Whites. I head to the Springs but nothing new flying there.

Time to head back up the island.

The 2 bison in the grass are still there - they are both laying down. People are drive right past them without noticing.

I'm almost to Frary Peak and I see a big herd of bison near the water. I'm not sure where they came from - they certainly weren't there earlier. They must be part of that herd up near White Rock Trail's ridge. There's another herd a little further down the road near the water too. Boy, that was a large herd up there - most of them were hiding above the ridge! Must have been neat to see them all come down to the shoreline.

I'm back to the causeway and it's time to check out all the birds. There are so many of them!! Many shorebirds, gulls, and ducks. Now I can see why, there are tons of insects on the water and flying over the water. It's a feast for the birds. I can only ID the American Avocet but many, many birds!!

Awesome day!