More of Antelope Island

Another wonderful place I did not do justice to in my blog ,due to no internet, is Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake SP!  I combined 3 awesome places into one post with the notion I would later go more in depth.  My sister has a dear friend in CO (she hosted the garden party) and she told me if you get close to Antelope Island do STOP!  I was zooming up I-15 in heavy city traffic and suddenly a sign said Antelope Island next right and I just took it without even giving more thought to it than that...I did hope there would be other signs to point the way since I had not mapped it out period! It was all on a whim which is how I love to travel on a loose whim.

If you really want to be wow-d go there.  This is a place I would like to see in other seasons maybe not summer, but def spring and winter...

If you're a serious photographer with lots of patience you could get some awesome dust/dawn/twilight/sun rise/sun set shots here!  The vast lake itself is magical and like most western bodies of water right now its on the low level.  It's the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere and the largest remaining part of the prehistoric lake Bonneville! The lake has no outlet only evaporation that is why its saltier than the oceans.

Thanks to that salinity the lake has an enormous amount of brine shrimp and that brings BIRDS with the largest population of Wilson's Phalarope in the WORLD!  The cool thing about watching is the little circle dance they do which creates a vortex in the water and then they can scoop up the small crustaceans that are on the outer circles of the swirl so its a new "spin" on lunch!  I  took this video you have to excuse my constant chatter I am always amazed by nature and its hard to contain my curiosity.  It was my first time to witness this behavior.

                   

It was dizzying!! . 

there is a lot of insect activity near the water once you get up on the hills away from the water they disappear..

Up on the slight hill near our camp a scene unfolded....I saw a jack rabbit suddenly bound through the campground almost oblivious to the humans around and thought it strange...I snapped a fast photo as he surveyed and then took off!

next was a cubby/flock of chukkar just wandered down...I was amazed 

Then almost behind him was a pronghorn...she came within 30 ft of my camp...I was like Okay...snapping photos of her 

Casey Spots her...

then I spotted movement behind the brush about another 10 ft up the hillside and saw this character..and that answered that question of why are all these critters coming into the camp NEAR us humans? Clever and smart they are as Yoda might say..

Coyote

The hunter disappeared and soon the critters wandered back into the cover of natural surroundings...

There is a substantial herd of buffalo here and there is a buffalo ranch...I purposely did not visit that part of the park preferring to see the buffalo out free rather than in pens or corrals! 

A very nice visitors center sits up on a  hill with 360 degree views 

The animals are free roaming they tolerate the humans well but warnings say stay away from them...

Am. Avocet

The huge flocks of Northern Shoveler, Eared Grebes, Horned Grebes,  and American Avocets were here in great numbers too

here's a few stunning views I enjoyed! 

Then it was time to get back on the road!! I sure was HAPPY I stopped it def was a highlight!!

I could go on and on, but I'll leave something for you to discover on your own...

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.