I get out of work a bit earlier. My original plan was to hike the Little Cottonwood Trail but there's storm clouds brewing (yet again) so I decide to stay closer to home in Millcreek Canyon. My plan is to checkout the butterflies from the road to the Grandeur Peak Trailhead and then, if it hasn't rained yet, see what is flying along Rattlesnake Gulch.
The drive up Millcreek Canyon is devoid of butterflies - much different than the swarms of Painted Ladies flying last time I was here.
The trees (especially the Maples) have leafed out but there's hardly any flowers in bloom.
I park along the road and start up the road to the trailhead. The stream is flowing faster than I've ever seen it.
I check along the stream in the other muddy areas. Pretty disappointing to only find a few Spring Azures.
The unusually cold and wet Spring (over 10 inches of rain) has taken a toll on the butterflies this year.
I also see one Anise Swallowtail
and an Orangetip.
Nearing the trailhead, I stop at the lower falls
(just a single Azure here)
and then up to the upper falls.
I continue up to the footbridge above the falls; usually good butterflies here - but nothing.
Time to head down but first, I stop to watch a White-lined Sphinx moth hopping from Dandelion to Dandelion.
Now over to Rattlesnake Gulch. This trail is more open an sagebrush but still not much flying. I do see a Red Admiral, a few Spring Azures, a couple of Rocky Mt Duskywings
and one Orangetip.
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I make it up the hill and start west on the Pipeline Trail.
Not much in bloom here either but I do find a few Arrowleaf Balsamroot in bloom.
And I see a hummingbird perched on a tree and quickly flying off.
The clouds have really rolled in so I stop about 1/4 miles from the overlook but I still have a good view west.
Good day!
