Roseate Spoonbills on Big Slough

Roseate Spoonbills on Big Slough
Roseate Spoonbills on Big Slough
Showing posts with label Antelope Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Antelope Island. Show all posts

Friday, May 29, 2015

A Visit to Antelope Island

When I changed my plans to camp for three days near Moab, I ended up with a little time on Sunday morning to go visit Antelope Island, the largest island in the Great Salt Lake. It is across a long causeway that separates two bays. It took me about an hour to get there because I was fascinated with the pastel colors of the sea and also kept getting distracted by the wildlife.


The day was mostly cloudy but I loved the colors of the sea in that light

The only pair of mallard ducks I saw

The colors changed with the light

There were several hundred eared grebes  - but too far away for a good picture of them

When I first glimpsed this, I thought they were trying to ride a live bison. 

Red-winged black birds were singing

Barn swallows had just arrived and were looking for places to build their nests

A few tree swallows were also hanging out

A view from the island road

The invasive saltcedar (Tamarix sp.) was present and blooming

And invasive mustard was getting a foothold in the hills

View from one of the trailheads - I went there looking for Chuckar

There are about 600 bison on the island - I always love the new calves

I could have watched the play of clouds, light, and water all day

I would have loved to try floating in the sea but, alas, the day was way too cold. And I had to leave around 2:00 in order to make it to my Montana home before dark so didn't get to take any of the hikes.