A hazy but sunny morning. About 70 when I left. The causeway drive was interesting because there is no water either in Farmington Bay or Salt Lake for most of the 13+ miles drive. It looks so different but that's what happens after 3 years of drought.
Towards the end of the causeway, there is water in both the bay and the lake (much more in the lake though). I do my usual thing of turning to drive down the east side of the island to the ranch. Before I go even a 1 mile there are 5-6 bison along the road at the intersection for the ranch.
I pulled off to watch. Always fun to hear them ripping the grass from the ground and chewing. One of the bison appeared to have some battle marks on his back.
I continue down the island scanning for any movement. The spot along the fence which usually has a pronghorn or bison, has nothing. But as I continue down, I run into a HUGE herd of bison all marching south down the island (in the same direction I'm heading). They are on the both sides of the road and in the road. My progress is definitely slowed but the ones crossing the road and marching in it.
With my windows rolled down, I can't hear the huffs they make while breathing and other communication sounds. But I watch. And then all of a sudden, the whole herd turns and starts running back north up the island. (I'm in the middle of a stampede!!) Once they passed, I wondered what could possibly cause that kind of panic. There's only coyote on the island, I'm driving my car in the middle of them and they don't care.... Well the big scare was caused by 2 bicyclists coming up the road - what a bunch of whimpy bison!! :)
Anyway, I continue on my way and see several more smaller herds - one closer to the bay (the summer mud flat, a very large one), one tucked near the mountains, etc.
I finally get to the parking area for the Sentry Trail; it's still a comfy 72 degrees and I'm off. I quickly spot a bfly -- it's a pretty fresh Grey Hairstreak (love the little red lines and the long tail).
Not too much further, I track down a blue flyer -- it's the beautiful Melissa Blue (quite a few out today).
I find them all along the trail except at the very top. (I really need to learn the ID of these guys.)
Lots of grasshoppers too and if they're not hopping they are pretty camouflaged.
Not much further up the trail, I do find water. It's a little seep, very green and lush. This must be where the animals get their fresh water (besides the bay). I've never noticed it before. Hmmm.
I see a large orange flyer -- it's a Monarch!! I'm really excited because this is only the 2nd time I've seen them in UT -- I think the other time was in late summer on Antelope Island too. (I saw a total of 5 today.)
I keep seeing tiny things moving fast across the trail. Finally, I see that they are small lizards.
I find one sunflower - it has some life on it -- a beetle and caterpillar- it's own little ecosystem.
As I'm getting to the "loop" part of the trail, I see a lone bison heading down the left side. He beds down. I'll have to deal with him on my way down because I'm going up in the counter-clockwise direction.
I round a corner and scare up 2 pronghorn. They run for awhile and then stop to look at me. I think this may be a Mom and offspring since there is a definite difference is size and the smaller one is following the lead of the larger one.
After a look at me, they decide to run off.
I get to the top and the usual wonderful view is still hazy over the lake. I can barely see the mountains. After a quick rest, I continue across and behind Sentry Peak. I spot a bird overhead circling; he's got a white belly and tan/white/dark grey wings. Definitely a hawk/falcon. I think he was eyeing all the birds I scared up when I went through the rocky section of the trail. (After looking at a bird book, pretty sure it was a Swainson's Hawk - light morph - maybe).
Heading down, I scare up another 2 pronghorn. These weren't the same as earlier -- they were both the same size. But they took off running and kept running.
I get to the section I expect to see the lone bison. I finally see him. What a great view he has -- it's a Lion King view of the ground below. Oops, that's one of those pesky rock bison!!
I find the real bison below in a dry wallow. He's enjoying rolling in it. But he soon notices me as I get nearer. The wallow is a few feet from the trail, I'm hoping he's in a good mood.
At about 100 yrds away he stands up and looks in my direction. I stop -- he's tail wagging which I think is a good sign (I think a raised tail equals a stressed bison.) He turns away and I continue. I'm going off trail to get the widest berth I can but there's a big hill so I'm limited. Each time he turns towards me, I stop (his tail still wagging). Finally, he starts to move -- unfortunately in the same direction I'm heading, but he's moving.
I get to the final switchback and I do spot him but he's resting far from the trail (whew!).
I make one last quick stop at the seep because I saw a skipper here earlier. And I see him again resting on a leaf. This is a Yuma Skipper and it is a lifer for me!!!!
On the drive back, lots of bison made it down to the bay.
Along the fence line, there's my pronghorn standing proud. :)
Well its 12:30 I'm starving and after seeing all those bison, a bison burger sounds really good. A quick stop at the island's grill restaurant gets me that bison burger!
Great day!
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