Utah Road Trip

Well you've seen the fishing report from our day off in Utah last Friday. After checking out from the Homestead resort Tracy and I spent the rest of the day exploring northern Utah.

We saw quite a few critters in Midway including a local herd of mule deer took up winter residence at the resort.

On the drive out we saw several turkeys that were hunched up against the cold. We weren't able to stop for a picture but they were as cold as any frozen Butterball!

We also saw a moose in the canyon between Park City and Salt Lake City.

As we drove out through Brown's Canyon north of Midway, we came upon an exotic animal farm and got these pictures:

Frosty Bison


Fallow Deer

After a Subway lunch in Morgan and a visit to a yarn shop in Ogden, it was on to Antelope Island State Park in the Great Salt Lake.

We stopped along the causeway on the way out and took some pictures.

Causeway

Just as we were continuing on a big hawk flew up from his kill just a few yards away from where we had been standing. I couldn't believe he had sat there for the whole time we were stopped and we had totally missed him. He was eating a duck and must have remained still as a stone.

Ducks in the Open Water


Shoveler In Flight

After crossing the causeway, something caught my eye and I bailed out to see what it was.

Rabbit!


Photographer

We spotted a small herd of bison near the visitor center and got our eyes on a coyote lurking nearby. I tried some long range pictures but wasn't happy with them.

Wild Bison

The coyote was moving in the direction of the small rocky hill where we had seen the rabbit so as we passed by I jumped out again to try to get down wind of him for a better picture.

To my surprise a covey of chuckar quail had moved in and I got these pictures.

On the Lookout


Hidden in the Snow


Trio


Chuckar in Flight

Mr. coyote must have seen or heard me and headed off in another direction missing a chance at a lunch of rabbit and quail. As we continued on he reappeared and Tracy was able to get these shots out the window of the H3.

Winter Coat


Perfect Pose


Sneaky Pete

We had been advised to watch for porcupines eating the bark off the Russian Olive trees and sure enough we saw several along the road on the eastern side of the island.

Got Bark?

There were several hawks, harriers, and falcons and supposedly some eagles to be seen. We saw some of the former but none of the latter that we could distinguish.

Searching for a Meal

This coyote was taking a trip across the frozen lake.

At the end of the island is a historic ranch where we stopped for a stretch and some pictures.

Ranch Scene


Horse Stalls


My Dream Ride


Get the Stove Going!


Winter Beauty

After leaving the ranch we headed back for the causeway but I wasn't through looking yet. We hadn't seen any antelope (pronghorn) or bighorn sheep and there was still some daylight left. We veered off to another road which took us to the trail head for buffalo point. We hiked up a ways but not quite to the summit.

Buffalo Point Trail


Great Salt Lake


Explorers


Skylands


Mountain Girl


Evening Sun on The Great Salt Lake

The ride back across the causeway brought us near the raft of ducks feeding on brine shrimp in the fading light.

Feeding Ducks

We got to enjoy the sunset before heading back to civilization.

All in all it was a great day. We may need to return in the spring!