June 18 - Mormon Trail

Another hot day predicted with clouds rolling in later before a cold front. Heading up to the Mormon Trail to check out the butterflies.

I arrive around 8am; it's sunny, 65 degrees with clouds around but I think I'll be good at least for the initial 2 miles.

The trail still looks flooded so I take the alternate route (I do need to bring some pruners to clear out some of the trail.)

Up the hill I do and down the trail I go too. And surprise! It's cloudy. Every time I come here it's cloudy on the way out -- same today. :(

I do see a few butterflies though. The Ringlets are flying. I scare up a few Northern Crescents and when I reach the meadow, I find a bunch of Cloudywings trying to get some sun.

The Salsify and Yarrow are in bloom now. Lots of Salsify! There's also Beardtongue, Strawberries, blooming Cherry trees (though many are past peak), Geraniums, Death Camas, Jacob's Ladder, purple guys 

and Wild Onions.

The pond is much lower this week and the muck on top is increasing.

Many more dragonflies flying today.

The water behind the dam is gone but there is a lot of mud - too bad there's no sun.

As I reach the 2 mile mark, the sun is staying out longer now. As I turn around it's almost a brief explosion of butterflies in the sun. First I see Relict Frits

with more Northern Crescents and Northern and Mexican Cloudywings.

The Swallowtails start flying both Western and 2-tailed.

I also see a few Blues and a Common Checkered Skipper.

Wow! What a little sun can do!

At one point, I get yelled at by a chipmunk.

But the clouds quickly return and the return trip is in-n-out of clouds until the last 1/4 mile where it's all sun.

I check the muddy area behind the dam. Not surprising not a lot of butterflies there yet but there is my 1st Weidemeyers Admiral of the year.

The pond is still dead.

On the return, I also find a Milbert's Tortoiseshell, Field Crescent.

List:

Weidemeyer's Admiral

N. Crescent

Northern Cloudywing

Mexican Cloudywing

Relict Frit.

Large Marble

Western and 2-tailed Swallowtails

Ringlet

Western Tailed Blue

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Field Crescent

Northern Checkerspot

Purplish Copper

Afranius Duskywing

Painted Lady

Awesome day!

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