Beauty, Nature, Hiking, Photography

Antelope Island in March is Better Than Advertised

I like to drive. I had decided years ago that one day I’d drive to Antelope Island to photograph the wonderous swarms of birds that migrate thru this area each spring. March 2025 was the time. I did this drive in two days. Day one from Minneapolis St Paul to Casper Wyoming where I had the second best burrito I ever ate!

Day two was a scenic drive from Casper to Antelope Island. It had snowed an inch or so over night. This area is where the high prairie meets the mountainous region and the snow added an element to the drive that made the landscape glow. The drive from Casper to Rawlins was among the most scenic drives I’ve ever made and if you are driver you need to put this route on your list. In addition to the scenic beauty this land is full of antelope!

Arriving at Antelope Island around 3pm the lake was still and I could see thousands of birds on the water. American avocets mostly but also a mix of various ducks and other shorebirds. I set up camp on site 1 at the Ladyfinger campground located on Ladyfinger Point. I chose this site because it appeared more remote and less like a KOA campsite. My site was excellent, tucked into the brush and away from the one other camper who was there. I do have to warn you this area is very busy at sundown because of the incredible views of over the lake and mountains to the west.

I did some scouting and made a decision on what the next day would provide for entertainment in nature. Great Salt Lake was shy of water on my visit and the shorebirds and waterfowl I wished to photograph were well out into the lake. Too far for photos so I made my rounds looking for other photography opportunities. What I found were incredible numbers of western meadowlark along with horned larks, long-billed curlew, northern harriers, burrowing owls, ravens, chukar, spotted towhee, jack rabbits, bison and antelope.

Waking well before sunrise I made the 20 minute drive to Fielding Garr Ranch a noted historical spot that also features the opportunity to see barn owls. This drive has a snowed capped mountain to the west and Great Salt Lake to the east. Pretty cool. Unfortunately I did not see a barn owl but on the way there were numerous rabbits, bison, antelope, harriers and grassland birds. On the way back north I stopped to photograph horned larks and western meadowlarks. My next stop was the area with burrowing owls and long-billed curlew. This is near the visitor center. I wanted to photograph them in the morning light before heading out a nice hike on the Buffalo Point Trail.

I spent 3 days on Antelope Island looking for nature and hiking the trails that were not very crowded for such a beautiful place. In the absence of opportunities for waterfowl and shorebirds I spent much time hiking and photographing the species that were in front of me as they say. In the end the absolute beauty, eye candy as I refer to it was so captivating I found myself more than satisfied with my experience despite not being able to photograph shorebirds and waterfowl. I highly recommend a trip to Antelope Island. And for this who prefer to fly it’s just a 30 minute drive from Salt Lake City.

Birds viewed on Antelope Island March 2025.

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