Jan 11 - Coyote Day (at Antelope Island)

Well we finally got some snow (probably been several weeks now)...actually 3 storms dumping a couple of feet or more in the mountains -- only several inches in SLC and the storms FINALLY cleared out the inversion (and the air quality). Now I can see (and breathe) again.

The Oquirrh Mountains look awesome this morning -- all snowy white. I'm heading to Antelope Island basically because its supposed to be near 50 today AND I can see distances.

Lots of folks on the highway this morning -- not sure where everyone is going (perhaps a little cabin fever relief from the 3 days of snow) but the cops are out. Seen 3 cars pulled over on the way to Antelope Island (luckily not me).

Perfectly clear day, its just the sun is having a little trouble coming out this morning - I know there's another storm coming in but I thought it was this evening (keeping fingers crossed).

I get to the causeway and I can see Frary Peak (and the other Antelope Island Mts), the Wasatch (to the east), the mountains to the north and Stansbury Island mts. The lake to the south is white and frozen, the water to the north is frozen for the first few miles and opens up with little chunks of ice in the water (and this smells like salt water). The mt to the north is reflecting wonderfully off the water only interrupted by the ice chunks.

At the only ice-free spot on the south side, there are hundreds of little black ducks. Most are pressed against the ice edge but the others just swimming around.

As usual, I start heading down the east side to the Ranch. There's more snow than I expected --- I know we got several inches but its been warm the last few days (almost 40) so most of what we got has melted (in the valley anyway). Scanning for any signs of animals.

Not much happening just wonderful views of snowy mountains to the east and Frary Peak to the south.

Finally, I see that there is a car pulled off and I quickly see a medium sized dark animal moving along the ground. I'm thinking groundhog -- but when I get out of my car, its a porcupine!!!

This is the 1st one I've ever seen in the US. He's just moving through the snow and soon disappears into the vegetation. Great start!

A little further down the road, I see a coyote on the ice. And he's running --- nope there are 2 coyotes!!! Jogging, trotting, stopping, looking --- still wonder why they're on the ice, there must be something they eat out there.

I get to the ranch without seeing a deer, pronghorn or bison -- pretty strange -- I think its a 1st for me. Mr DNR is there and escorts me to where the Great Horned Owls are sitting. The large female is in an upper branch almost perfectly camouflaged --- all I can see is her feathers. The smaller male is sitting one branch below. He's looking around and when I get under his branch, he looks right at me. I try to get a good angle for a photo but there are way too many branches in the way. (But I take pictures anyway.)

The mountains south of the ranch look really pretty today.

Time to head over to Bison Point on the west side of the island. And I'm looking for the 2 coyotes. And sure enough they were still on the ice but now with a 3rd coyote!!

When I first see them, one is laying down and the other two are standing right by her. Then they all start walking to the north. After a short while, and a little scent marking, the one coyote lays down and the other 2 continue along the ice until they spot in a little patch of vegetation. Not sure what happened next as I got back in my car and continued to drive.

My next stop is Bison Point --- with a lot of the snow melted, my plan was to climb to the top but the sun is pretty much covered by the darker clouds that are rolling in. But I do go about 1/2 way up for a great view of White Rock Bay.

I head over to the White Rock Bay trailhead and decide to just walk the trail along the water to the beach. I'll do the entire loop if I see animals in the valley. But there isn't even the old bison at the trailhead. They all most have moved into the valleys when the storms came through.

There are a few people on the trail  as I see 3 horseback riders going up the hill. Had about every trail condition on the walk: snowpack, dirt, ice, mud so it was quite a little adventure. But it was very quiet.

White Rock was clearly visible as were the mountains in back. The water had a yellowish color possibly because of the hidden sun sneaking through. I keep scanning for any movement but all was quiet until I saw yet another coyote trotting along the ice on White Rock Bay (that's #4 today). He's was heading north along the ice (the opposite direction that I was going).

When I got around the mountain into the valley, there were 5 bison (finally)! Three were standing and 2 were laying chewing cud (I saw their mouths moving). I continue along the trail.

A little while later I heard something so I stopped. I heard this choir of coyotes yipping/yapping, howling and make other vocalizations that I don't even know how to describe. But I stood still and just listened as it went on for a minute or so. Once it stopped, a different pack of coyotes started similar vocalizations (but louder and to the right of the other coyotes), when they were done, the original pack started up again --- I actually thought I heard another single coyote responding too - he was further to the east! Fantastic! I've never heard anything like it -- and then it was quiet again.

I walked to the bench and turned around and started back. I was hoping to see the horseback riders but I don't know where they went.

As I rounded the mountain on the last stretch back to my car I see 2 bison --- I'm a little stunned as I don't know where they came from OR how I missed them. But as I continue to walk I realize that they are behind a berm which coming from parking area,  they are invisible --- whew! I thought I wasn't paying attention on the way out.

Saw just one other bison behind the visitors center as I exited.

Porcupine, owls, bison and lots of coyotes --- great day!