Bison Day 2023

We missed out on going to Antelope Island for Bison Day last year so we made sure to do it this year on November 4.

At one point while we were driving around, I said, "See those over there. Those are pronghorns. They're what the island is named for. Pronghorn Island."

We also saw a coyote running around then watched as it got closer and closer to a group of pronghorns. We were able to see the point when they noticed the coyote and decided to move somewhere else. Heh Heh. Nature's cool, man. 

We brought along our bison plushie and we did see lots of bison on the island. 

Jeremy got a kick out of all the birds on the backs of the bison.

We also saw deer so we got all three of the "Home on the Range" animals this trip.

I had Jet saying Hi to the bison statue in the visitor's center and while we were at the ranch, I thought, "Bye, son," as my boys walked away from where I was.

I love Antelope Island. It is such a beautiful place, a wonderful place to see and experience nature and I'm so happy when I can share that with the family I love.

Coyote

 

When everyone else is captivated by the bison so close to the road and I'm like, "Ooh, there's a coyote."

Fall Break- Antelope Island

I asked in advance what family members wanted to do for Fall Break to see what we could fit in. Besides hiking, owling with Jr. Jr., and the gardens at Thanksgiving Point, the last thing on the list was going to Antelope Island to play in the long grass. So for our last day of Fall Break, we headed to Antelope Island. 

Unfortunately the long grass was all cut down but we played in the woods. 

Actually there were not many people at Garr Ranch so we had the bird area to ourselves for a while. We saw several different species including a Virginia Rail, some hermit thrushes, and plenty of ruby-crowned kinglets to name just a few.

This raven was making all sorts of noises, including some that made us think we were hearing other birds. Corvids are cool. 

At one point Jet and I were walking toward an area Nichole had gone to take pictures when a few kinglets started hopping around on the trees right in front of us. We stood still and watched them then watched some thrushes pop out and hop around as well. I was impressed with how quiet and still Jet was. He was very interested in watching those birds as was I.

We met some other birders who are moving to the area from New York. Jeremy was able to tell them what we'd been seeing. Later we ran into them again while we stopped for lunch with the bison and Jeremy was able to point out some loggerhead shrikes and a coyote.

 

Birding whilst social distancing.

 

Quite a few flies got into the van so Jr. kept saying, "Flies are your tickle friends," in a funny voice. Can you tell the kids have been reading the blog lately?

 

I'm on top of the world.

 

It was a great trip. We had such a good time but it was tiring. Two of the children were asleep by the time we got home. Awwwww.

The cutest part of the trip- when we got off the freeway, Lucky saw the sign for Antelope Dr and asked, "Antelope Doctor? Why do they have an Antelope Doctor?"

Day Off

So what happens when you have a day off of school and no shows scheduled?  If it were up to the kids, they'd just want to play video games all day.  If it were up to the parents, they'd want to go bird watching.
We didn't want our kids wasting all day playing video games, even if Nichole had a friend over.  She and her friend got to play on the Wii for a little while then we all hopped in the van and headed up to Antelope Island.  The whole way, Jeremy and I were hoping that the weather wouldn't be too bad.  It was supposed to be somewhat rainy and snowy today.  There was quite a bit of rain and a tiny bit of snow on the way there and on the way back but while we were there, it wasn't too bad.  We are so glad we didn't just turn around and go home.  It was great.
We saw deer, bison, coyotes, and a bunch of birds.

Still working on identifying some of them and we didn't get pictures, just video, of northern harriers, but here are some we did identify (in no particular order):

 red-winged blackbirds

 chukars

 white-crowned sparrows

 

 magpie

 red-tailed hawk

  American kestrels

 I think these are American tree sparrows

*Update:  I changed my mind.  I do not think these are actually American tree sparrows.  I believe they are also white-crowned sparrows, like the birds in some of the above pictures.  These are immature white-crowned sparrows, which is why they have more reddish markings instead of the black on the head.*

 

Some of the still pictures didn't turn out- we also saw northern shovelers, mallards, other ducks, goldeneyes, California gulls, and crows or ravens.

Some of the kids and I even did some hiking.

It was a good day.