Oct 4 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

The rain of the last 2 days (plus falling temps) has left snow in the higher elevations. I can see it from my house, I can see in when I drive around --- I really wanted to get up there today but the storm is lingering around this morning - at 8:30 it's still raining near the canyon openings. :(

So I'll just head to Antelope Island and see what's moving around.

It's beautiful morning to the north -- though the clouds are still around the mountains area up here too.

When I get to some water along the causeway, it's so calm and the reflections are really nice (especially with the clouds).

Not as much waterfowl along the causeway - perhaps the feast has ended or the southern migration has begun.

Head down the east side towards the Ranch - hiking the Sentry Trail today. I stop at the first pull-out really just to see if there are bison below - and sure enough there were 4 bison - including one scratching himself on a big rock.

Continuing down to the ranch, I see a small herd of bison on top of a ridge at the center of the island and two more bison past the Frary Peak turnoff.

And near the Sentry Trail, there is another small herd walking north from Mushroom Springs (I have a bison-free trail -- at least at the beginning.)

I start the trail and immediately see Clouded Sulphers still flying. Also, hear some Chukkars.

There are 2 bison a little ways off the trail -- one is laying down and the other, he's looking in my direction - but too far off to cause any trouble.

I love the views with the wispy clouds this morning!!!

On the way up, I see one Monarch, 3 Western Pygmy Blues, a couple of dragonflies, tiger beetles and one lizard. But the mosquitoes are quite annoying -- I'm not sure why they are out after a long hot dry summer unless 2 days of rain can set them flying.

The top is wonderful as always. I see no animals but there are fresh antelope tracks on the muddy trail heading behind the peak.

I do hear barking at one point. I stop and it's coming from below -- I can't see any coyotes but one is down there somewhere.

I see another Monarch after I cross behind the peak and start my way down.

Hey, I can see a huge herd of bison down by the water and those 2 bison I saw on the way up, well, that's down a herd of about 30 animals now!

I see my 3rd Monarch of the day at little further down the trail. And a Mylitta Crescent a little further down.

I'm heading south along the long flat switchback when about 40 yards ahead of me 3 pronghorn come bounding down the slope across the trail and down to a flat spot below.

I hear the one snort and when I look up, here comes the 4th pronghorn cross the trail down to his herd. They are only there for seconds and take off running down the rest of the hill. Boy, something really spooked them!

I get back to my car and look my itchy left shoulder - 10 bites! A bite on my left wrist, 3 on my right hand, only 2 only my right shoulder (definitely not equal opportunity shoulder biters).... guess the mosquitoes were worse then I thought.

On the way back north, I see all the bison I saw on the way down but there are also 2 pronghorn by the fence. One female and one male.
 
I head around to the other side of the island (to get probably my last bison burger of the year) and see 5 deer! I pull over and see that one is a buck - a large buck with 4 points on each antler. I figure that the other must be females but no, it's a small bachelor herd! And the buck, at least 3 of them have 3-4 points on each antler! Those are nice deer!

Another great day on Antelope Island!