- specifically for the Sonoran Blue, Desert Orangetip and Desert Black Swallowtail. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Worst case, I just enjoy the desert Spring wildflowers which should be in bloom now (super bloom this year) and my brother's company.
Today, well, I brought rain to southern CA. It was raining when I arrived and it's still raining this morning. :( But no worries, I'm heading east, over the mountains and into the desert where there is no rain.
The trip up highway 67 is super curvy, rainy and foggy. Even so, it looks pretty with all the green and hills.
As a turn onto highway 79, the sun starts to appear and a large rainbow appears. I can see both ends.
And the landscape start changing - flatter, rockier, more desert looking.
I pass the Culp Valley Trail head. I was going to stop for the first hike of the trip but there's many trails/roads closed in the park so I want to check with the Visitor's Center first.
Soon after passing the trail head, I'm looking down (several thousand feet down) on Borrego Springs. Wow! It's a long switchback filled drive down hill. Crazy!
Arriving in Borrego Springs, its sunny, around 70s (yes) and very windy. At the Visitor's Center I quickly find out that 2 of my "must" hikes are closed due to flooding. There will be no Sonoran Blue this trip :(.
Oh well, just a reason to come back.
At the Visitor's Center, we walk along the sidewalks. Lots of flowers blooming
(Desert Chicory & Wild Heliotrope (??))
(Desert Dandelion)
and tons for Painted Ladies!!! They're flying everywhere (and it's the only butterfly to be seen).
I ask every official looking person I can find if they know anywhere I might see the Sonoran Blue -- unfortunately no butterfly experts :( (Or they thought I might be a collector and are just not saying.)
I thought about walking down to Palm Canyon (another potential butterfly hot spot) but that's the other trail that is closed. :(
So off we go on a spur trail that heads over to Hellhole Canyon. The trail is flat and thru a pebbly desert
with plenty of flowers.
(Chuparosa)
I can't believe the number of Painted Ladies flying thru the landscape; it's incredible!!
Soon, in addition to the flowers, more cactus appears.
At one point I look down and holy cow it's a Small Checkered Skipper sitting in a Desert Dandelion (yellow flower)! I've only seen one before in a desert area in AZ. Unfortunately, before I can get my camera out, he flies!! :(
He's tiny guy and we lose him. We walk around the area for a while hoping to find another - no luck! Very cool to see him if only for a few seconds!
A bit farther, I see a white butterfly ahead. I'm off after it. I get a quick look -- possibly a Marble as I don't really see the orange tips. But he takes off. I chase him thru the desert finally catching up and managing to get off a quick photo. It's a Desert Orangetip - a lifer for me!
We turn back shy of reaching the Hellhole Trail. But on the way back, still looking for that Small Checkered Skipper on the way back.
Back in the car, we head for a lunch and then out to Coyote Canyon to view the wildflowers (the parking there is probably too crowded by now but we go anyway). Along the way we pass these awesome metal sculptures by Richard Breceda in an area called Galleta Meadows.
We stop to look at a couple
And some new flowers Sand Verbena
Desert Lily
At that one stop, I also see a Duskywing flying but never catch up with him.
We'll stop at the rest of the sculptures after seeing Coyote Canyon (or at least as close as we can get to Coyote Canyon).
Off we go, passing thru rows of citrus trees. At one point, there are so many cars along side the road, we stop and take a walk thru the amazing blooms. (No Coyote Canyon today.)
We walk perhaps a 1/4-1/2 mile
(Jimson Weed)
finally reaching a field of dark yellow flowers with bright orange centers begin. Incredible!!
On the way back, I see 2 different caterpillars on the same plant.
I think they are both Sphinx Moth caterpillars - they look different because they are different in stars (or perhaps different species of Sphinx Moth).
We're done with the fields of flowers; time to visit the sculptures. (Below is only a few of them.)
When we finally reach town again, a store owner informs us that there are more south of town. Off we go.
The last few are on a very bumpy dirt road. I see a Jack Rabbit along the way!
And of course, the sculptures.
in the desert.
Awesome day!
