I arrive just after 10 am. Sunny with temperatures around 62 degrees. I cross the bridge and wow, the water has gone down a lot. Now the trail is just variable degrees of muddy. I'm not even sure than I'm on the trail I've walked the last 5 years because it looks so different but I end up at the actual trail so all is well.
The landscape is still green with the dominant flower being the Dandelion. But there purple daisies, yellow cinquefoil and strawberries starting to bloom, a few Wild Hyancinths, Death Camas, Balsamroot, Bluebells and Geraniums (both pink and white).
The lupine have buds and will be blooming soon. And I can't forget the numerous Wild Cherry that is in bloom (or near bloom) - beautiful!!
The plant find of the day is a large Green Gentian!!
Strange to hear no creek and rock hop over a flooded trail - I missed that this year.
But I quickly find one of my favorite butterflies -- the Relict Fritillary!
She's on-time once again this year -- always flying the first week of June.
Also flying are Western Tailed Blues and Boisduvals Blue (many more BB than WTB).
On the way to the Mormon Camp, I see 4 Swallowtail species (Pale, Anixe, Western, and 2-Tailed), Large Marble, Orangetips, Northern Crescent
Rocky Mt Duskywing, Dreamy Duskywing
Northern Cloudywing
Field Crescents and Common Checkered Skippers
a Milbert's Tortoiseshll and many, many Common Ringlets bouncing around the landscape.
I also consider Summer season started as I see one Weidenmeyer's Admiral!
I reach the meadow and head over to the pond.
There I see dragonflies flying.
I head past the pond and dam stopping behind the dam to look at the muddy areas. Lots of Blues and Duskywings today.
I continue on to the 2 mile mark before deciding to turn around - I'll go farther next time. Just before I get to that stop, I see my 1st Mourning Cloaks of the day. In one 20 foot section, I see five of them basking. All very fresh looking.
On the way back, I meet my trail friend "Santa" and his dog. We talk butterflies and "stuff" before he takes off on his bike again.
On the way back thru the muddy connector trail, I see that Beaver's dam that was causing the flooding.
Nice walk and good to be back.
On the way home, I decide take a quick detour up Lambs Canyon as the road is finally open!!!! With all the people I've seen over the last few weeks walking the road, I'm not expecting an open parking spot but I'm to surprised to find several. Good for me!
I head out to search the muddy areas near the parking lot. Still seeing 2-tailed Swallowtails and Western Tailed Swallowtails, Orangetips, Large Marbles, Spring Azure, Western Tailed Blue, Mourning Cloaks, Rocky Mt and Sleepy Duskywings, Juba Skipper, Field Crescent and one Two Banded Skipper. But new for the day are Northern Crescents, Common Ringlets, Northern Checkerspot
Dreamy Duskywing
and a Green Comma.
Great little stop and awesome butterfly day!
