Crossing the causeway, I'm greeted immediately by a hawk perched on a road sign. He flies as soon as I stop.
A little further along, there's a Kestral perched on some grasses. I get a good look at him. His feathers all puffed out trying to keep warm.
I see a few more along the causeway.
There's plenty of snow along the causeway. Much of the brush is covered in snow. Farmington Bay is covered in ice. Even on the Salt Lake side, there was ice (much be more fresh water than salt water in these areas). The Salt Lake becomes open water as I get closer to the island. There's still fishermen out this morning!@
The snowy mountains on the island look awesome!
As do the snowy mountains on the main land.
The water is open (ice-free) near the bridge and there are a few ducks enjoying the water (and a nap). Look like mostly Shovelers.
On one of the first trees I see (and the first water hole), there's a large dark spot which could be Porcupine.....I stop and check
Definitely a Porcupine!!
At little further long, I see another Porcupine in a tree. And another Kestral.
Beautiful Frary Peak!
I'm almost to the Ranch when I finally see some bison to the west against the mountains. I stop for a look (at the bison and the mountains). When I looked across the street, there is a Western Meadowlark sitting alongside the road in the brush.
I go a little further and there's a whole herd of bison right off the road. Most of them a laying down
some even looked passed out in the snow. :)
These bison had definitely just walked to their new location in the road as there are bison patties in the road -- a little obstacle course to drive through.
I get to the Ranch and to my surprise there's Santa walking around - he must have a special stop on the Island today! :) I head back to check on the Great Horned Owl that resides in the back (I haven't check on the pair since Spring). I wander back through the trees and find one up in the branches. He's looking down on me.
I check for the other but did not find it; but I'm sure it's there somewhere.
As I come back thru, Santa now has his big chair to sit in; a "roping" bull is the reindeer - so cute. I get a "Merry Christmas" from Santa as I walk by -- Merry Christmas to you Santa!
Instead of heading back to the car, I head down the snowy road to the Sentry trail's trail head. Can't drive there anymore; the road is closed for the winter. Some parts of the road are clear, other parts have a couple of inches, and other parts have 4-6inches. I try to stay in the old tire tracks.
Lots of animals tracks in the snow -- rabbits/hares, hoofed animals (deer/antelope) and other smaller critters. The views are still beautiful@
I head back to my car and then back north up the island. Still no other animals but the bison are still in the same spots. And.... I see 4 other Porcupines on the back (a total of 6 today!). One was moving around on the branch and at one point looked like he was hugging the tree.
There is another solo one and the other two are a pair -- in different nearby trees.
I head over to Buffalo Point seeing one lone bison along the Buffalo Point road.
Thankfully, some one has broken the trail up to the top of Buffalo Point.
A little icy in spots and snowy in others. The patterns in the snow are intriguing and the background scenery is awesome!
Seeing tons of rabbit/hare tracks and other paw prints. These were really light in the snow -- don't think they are coyote, to small and light. Hmm?
The upper parts of the trail are less packed then below -- kicking lots of snow around. Just before reaching the top I see something brown duck under some rocks next to the trail. Must be a rabbit; lots of rabbit pellets nearby.
I reach the top -- this is the first time I've been up there in the snow --- pretty awesome!
Then I head back down.
Simply a wonderful day ... a Porcupine kind of day!
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