July 11 - Mormon Trail

July 11, 2022

Sunny day with highs in the upper 90s.

The plan was to hike up to Red Pine Lake this morning with an early start. However, my stomach was feeling all that great so I hung back just to make sure. Because of the delay, Red Pine was postponed and the Mormon Trail was the destination.

On the way there, near Little Dell, there's small wildfire burning. It's relatively small in size (so it seems). I can see no flames; just smoke. The State knows about it as a highway sign says not to report. Just hope they get it under control because the day heats up and any winds start blowing.

I still got an early start; at the trail by 7:30. It's still in the 40s (near 50) but the sun is out. Should be a quiet start to the day as the trail will be in the shade (until the meadow).

I start up the trail. The thistles are now blooming (or starting).

As I cross the dry creek bed I stop for a hummingbird that's slowly moving around the creek bed. I was until he disappears.

A little farther, I scare a young buck up the hillside. I move very slowly and I manage to catch just a glimpse of him.

Lots of chipmunks and squirrels moving along the trail.

And the Phlox and Horsemint are getting very prominent.

As I close in on the footbridge before the meadow, I hoping for a bunch of bflies like last week but nothing.

The meadow is pretty dead as well except the European Skippers are now out.

Lots of dragonflies around the pond.

Things start warming up with a few Northern Checkerspots, Mylitta Crescents and Field Crescents after I pass the dam.

Even see my 1st Great Spangled Frit of the year; a male of course.

A some point between mile 2 and mile 3, I scare a flock of Grouse. Scares the crap out of me too! Several fly, it's quiet and then a few more fly and a few more and a few more. There's has to be at least 15 of them. There's one of the ground walking along the trail

he disappears into the vegetation but I can here them calling - cute call almost like a cat. I move on to let them settle.

Not much farther down the trail, I scare of 4 more. Of course I get double the scare as they fly two, pause, then the other two. Sure does wake me up!

I turn around at the 3 mile marker and start back.

And guess what, I scare that flock of 15 again -- I swear I'm going to have a heart attack every time they fly! :)

Much more butterflies flying now - 23 total species for the day.

Highlights besides the Euros: a Painted Lady, an old battered Western tail Blue, 2 Clouded Sulphurs, a Satyr Comma, the GSF (of course) and there's still Ringlets and Relict Frits still flying. And no Coppers, where are the Coppers I've only seen a few so far.

Back at the pond, I find a puddle of Swallowtail - mostly Western but there is a Two-tailed.