May 27 - Mormon Trail

 Mostly sunny day with temps in the mid-80s. Time to get out before the bottom falls out over the 3 day Memorial Day week-end.

Heading to the Mormon Trail for my 1st hike of the season. Excited (and curious how muddy I'm going to get trying to reach the new entrance.

When I arrive, I'm the only car in the lot. There's pallet of pipe in the parking lot - curious what they will be doing -- hopefully re-routed this beaver dammed water off the trail (I can only hope).

I cross the bridge and pleasantly surprised the trail is dry (not usual for this time of year). But I don't have to go far and there's a stream of flowing water; back to the alternate trail up the hill.

When I get to the top, I hear Sandhill Crane calling. I look up and there's a lone Sandhill flying towards me and then over. What an awesome start!!

It's in the mid-60s and mostly sunny but there are lots of clouds. I'm hoping this isn't a bust as far as butterflies. I'll soon find out.

As I start up the dry trail, I see a Ringlet and a couple of Western Swallowtails.

The clouds soon come with small peeks of sun. Despite that I still see butterflies. Not in a lot numbers but species.

I'm passing dandelions (lots of them in bloom), Groundsel, Unidentified White flowers and Purple Violets (Relict Frit food - well Frit food). The Bluebells are also up.

Along the way, I pass a clump of moose fur hanging from a branch.

And a Gold Finch!

Still lots of large puddles on the trip.

I find a cracked Robin's eggs just before the pond.

I soon arrive at the pond and it's still cloudy. But I decide to keep going to the 2 mile hoping the sun will come up for the walk back as there's a lot of blue sky up there just not where the sun is.

Find a Large Marble before leaving the pond.

My favorite mud puddle is still filled with plenty of water -- good stuff!

Continuing on I see my Relict Frit!!

I reach the 2 mile mark and start back. And the sun is out!!!

A lot more activity on the way back especially with the Duskywings and Orangetip (all males until I find 2 females).

The first time sightings of the year: Silvery Blue, 

Ringlet, Relict Frit, 

Mustard White, 

Northern Cloudywing.

The rest:

Anise, Western and 2-tailed Swallowtails


Spring Azure and Western Tailed Blue

Orangetips

Field Crescent

Common Checkered Skipper

Large Marble

Rocky Mt Duskywing

Sleepy Duskywing

Dreamy Duskwing

Brown Elfin (don't know how I found him) 

but while watching a Prometheus Moth flew by stopping quickly on the Dandelions (too quick to photo)

and finally a Painted Lady.

Oh, plenty of Yellow Warblers too!

Oh, I met a snake on the trail heading to the bridge. Slithered off the trail in the veg (no rattler)

Great day!

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