Today I'm heading back to the Mormon Trail for a two week checkup of what's blooming and what's flying.
When I get to the parking area, I was expecting to see campers -- after all its the July 4th week-end but no campers just a couple of cars.
Its 58 degrees and sunny at the trailhead. And off I go.
The trail skirts a camp, crosses a creek and then enters a wooded area following a flowing creek. As I enter, I see a Yellow Warbler and a Catbird. I wind thru the woods and exit into a sagebrush flat. And as soon as I exit I startle a doe (and she startled me too)! She jumps the barb-wired fence and trots about 20 yards up the hill, stops and looks back at me. We stare at each other for a bit and then she just stands there as I walk off down the trail.
I see a brown Wood Nymph (bfly) but can't ID a species.
Absolutely, zero water in the creek along this trail as I would expect (the winter run-off is done. Lots of lupine and clover in bloom now all along the trail. The trail is shady and cool so there isn't a lot of bfly action yet - a beaten up Blue, a Northern Crescent, a beaten up Purplish Copper. Actually pretty slow until just before the camp, then it starts picking up.
I climb the hill along the pond - I've never done this before but there's a Sulpher that I need some info about. While tracking the Sulpher, I'm seeing Greenish Blues for the 1st time here. Stunning orange-sh color when the wings are open!
Back to the Sulpher, he stops and I'm able to get a fairly decent view. Thankfully, he's not a Clouded/Orange Sulpher (common bfly of Midwest) and I believe he's a Western Sulpher (which is a "lifer" for me - yea!).
As I'm heading back to the trail, I see Garita Skipperling (tiny orange bfly)
And more Greenish Blues.
As I continue past the pond, I see the 1st of 3 Relict Frits and a large bright orange Frit -- the Great Spangled Frittilary. Wow is he a beauty!!
Seeing lots of Garita Skipperlings and now I'm seeing the Russet's Skippering - a little guy with shark bite marks on this wings.
There were lots of these guys flying around in certain spots along the trail.
I see a Mexican Cloudywing and plenty of Northern Cloudywings. The Dotted Blues are still flying. As are the Western Tailed Blues.
Red Paintbrush is blooming in a small area and there's one patch of about 15 White (Colorado) Columbine.
The Clodius Parnassians are still flying. Saw at least 11 of them. The ones I'm looking at seem to have see-thru wing tips. Not sure if they're old and worn or just part of that bfly.
I get to my bench but it was already occupied by two guys taking a biking rest. I sat on the ground next to the bench and we discussed things like ticks, lightening bugs, etc. After they left to continue their climb up the remaining hill, I headed down to the now dried up mud hole. Still bflies in there -- blues, Russet's Skippering, Weidenmeyer's Admiral, a Two-tailed Swallowtail, etc.
Now time to head back- its pretty hot now -- supposed to be another near 100 degree day in SLC so I'm pretty sure its in the mid-80s here.
When I get to the pond, I take the loop and see some different dragonflies.
Tried chasing some other Sulphers, but it was pointless as they wouldn't stop. I saw about 6 Sulphers today - I don't remember seeing any last year at all.
Great day! (28 species)
Happy 4th!!!
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