Got out of work around 1pm and am heading out to the Mormon Trail. Hoping the flood waters have dropped and can finally get to the trail. I'm over a month late in there.
Heading down the dirt road, the creek is still flowing strong but it has definitely dropped in level and intensity. I think I might get thru. :)
Several cars in the lot. I meet a lady who was looking for information on the trail and is curious my butterfly hobby. As we head thru the lead-in trail, it's not covered in water - yea! It's muddy in spots. Things are looking awesome until the last curve - water. About 1-2 ft of it for a stretch of about 5 feet. I stand there and debate my next move while she wades thru in shorts and sandals.
I decide to try to find another path. One fails. The lady is trying to find a way thru for me from the other side and we are successful. Someone has placed some boards over the water. I just step across and climb a steep hill.
On top, there are lots of lupine blooming. I see a Checkered White and a blue.
We part ways at the actual trail. Onward I go for the first time this year.
I'm hoping to find the Relict Frit. For the last 6 years, they fly like clockwork around June 1. Well, I was not here on June 1st but, butterflies in general have been late this year so maybe...well, I don't have to travel too far - Relict Frit!!! Holy cow!
I'm so happy!
I continue on seeing Blues and some small orange flyers but just can't catch up.
Cinquefoil is the dominant plant right now.
The trail is for the most part dry; there are some muddy spots. A few Blues in there -- even find a few Dotted Blues.
Along the way, I find Northern Cloudywing,
Rocky Mt Duskywing, Common Checkered Skipper, Boisduval's Blue,
Western Tailed Blue,
Spring Azure, a few Orangetips, a Western Swallowtail and one Two-tailed, Painted Ladies, bunches of Northern Crescents,
a Northern Checkerspot (by the pond),
a Garita Skipperling,
a Lilac Bordered Copper (by the pond),
a few Weidemeyers Admiral,
Mourning Cloak and many, many Common Ringlets.
And the Callippe Frits are now flying!
I see all those butterflies along the first 2 miles of the trail.
Dragonflies are out too but I only stop for one.
There are a few other flowers besides the Cinquefoil, Tall Jacob's Ladder is blooming
as well as what I call Fleabane.
And one of my favorite flowers (though the name escapes me - grrrr)
The pond at the camp is very full (and covered in algae)
Only a few mud puddles are active. The big one behind the dam only has a few butterflies. Not good news but makes sense since it's taken quite a while for the butterflies to get going this year. Hoping it gets better in the next few weeks.
I also see the guy I call Santa (facially, he looks like Santa). Nice to see him again. He tells me the butterflies have really started flying the last couple of weeks.
Also interesting to see some mating insects
A chipmunk
I'm definitely excited at all the sightings today.
It's after 4:30pm. I'm a very glad that I do like to look around when I'm hiking as I see this dark object not too far ahead of me. I stop - holy crap! It's a Mom moose and calf. And she locked on me.
Very exciting but it's dangerous and I'm blocked from moving forward. I back up several steps and turn to see if I can possibly bushwhack north up a slope to get by. When I turn back, I see the Mom with baby following running across the trail and presumably up the slope (I can see them after they cross the trail as I'm behind a slight.) Whew, that's one problem solved; I can get home. But I wait for a few minutes, I don't want to round the corner and she's standing on the slope and I get run over by an angry Mom.
When I take off, I go wide so there's the greatest distance between me and the slope. I see no moose. I head back to the trail and home.
Exciting day! (21 species and Mom & baby moose - incredible!)
