May 5 - Cedar Fort and Indian Trail Road

Well I'm heading south again to visit the site that I was thinking about this past Friday (but decided to pass). Told myself I go this coming week-end but for some reason I found myself heading there this morning. The purpose is simply to find some valley Spring butterflies.

I've been to the Cedar Fort rodeo site twice before. I don't remember anything exciting on the first trip but last year on one Skunkbush found a Great Purple Hairstreak, a few Desert Elfin and a Juniper Hairstreak. Hoping to repeat the same though I'm a week later.

I arrive and it's sunny and around 65 degrees. I find Painted Ladies

and a couple of different Whites - one larger and one smaller - flying. They don't stop but I saw a black box on the upper wing on one so I'm thinking Checkered White. The smaller one I didn't see an orange patch.

I make my way over to that Skunkbush and surprise - a Red Admiral. He's beauty!

I don't see many of these since I moved to Utah (common in the Midwest) so I'm pretty excited.

But nothing else on the plant.

I walk the dirt roads, then around the rodeo field and can't find any Desert Elfins, Purple Hairstreaks,...

But do find a pretty flower.

Too early, too late not sure but I tried.

A butterfly friend of mine last year gave me a potential Desert Elfin site at the mouth of Provo Canyon. There used to be colonies there but are they still there after the road was widened years ago.

I decided to head over and give it a shot.

As I head up the short road to the parking lot, I see some Whites flying. So after parking, I head down to check them out -- Cabbage Whites.

I also see a large Skunkbush - nothing.

I look around the parking lot and check the flying trees/shrubs around the lot -- the Painted Ladies sure love the Cherry blossoms. (They do smell awesome!)

I though the trail would head down towards the road. Not they way I think I should be going but game. See 2 Common Checkered Skippers (1st of the year) and Clouded Sulphurs (also the 1st of the year).

And I find my 1st Sphinx Moth of the year enjoying the Milkvetch.

I just keep going up (nice views west over Utah Lake)

and ahead towards the mouth of Provo Canyon.

Along the way I find some Phlox

Primrose

Balsamroot and Paintbrush.

Soon I have great views of Mt Timpanogos (to the north)

and another snowy peak to the east.

Time head down -- there's storm clouds rolling in.

On the way down, I'm thinking perhaps I should have taken the Provo River Trail instead. (Maybe I'll try next week-end; definitely next year.)

On the way down, I also find my first Swallowtail of the year; he flew right up into my face. Not sure which one: Western or Two-tailed.

I check the flowering tree/brush and Skunkbush before leaving - still nothing. And the storms clouds are near.

Good day!