It's definitely a lazy morning and I finally take off around 10:30 am for my second attempt at Murphy Dome - I believe I'm much smarter than GoogleMaps this time.
The drive down the paved road is uneventful other than the small red pickup truck that's on its side in a ditch.
There are still Canadian Swallowtail flying but not a great numbers.
Soon I reach the dirt road. It's actually very smooth (much better shape that one of my butterfly roads in UT) but it's a bit slick from last night's rain.
Several miles later, I reach Murphy Dome.
I'm not sure where I can park so I head up to the gated facility. The gate is open but a posted sign indicates Air Force property and entrance is forbidden so I head back down the road where I saw another car parked.
I walk back up to the Dome on a trail (not the road). Seeing many big Darner dragonflies,
a Blue butterfly and several moths as well - a tiny orange one and a larger black/white pattern one.
There are many dandelions blooming and only a few smaller flowers. Much of the landscape is some small tree/shrub.
I'm hearing a few different bird songs but can't track down any of them.
I reach the Dome and head left. There's a higher spot I want to check out but I pass by for now to check-out a building on the far side.
As I near I see these wonderful purple flowers (Jacob's Ladder I believe)
and some yellow daisy-like flowers.
While I'm checking out the yellow flowers, I hear a flapping noise in the air. I look and see two Old World Swallowtails swirling in battle -- low at first and then high into the air before they finally break-up.
I then follow a road around the other side of the high spot. There is a car parked in the road with 2 people in it. Not sure what they are doing and I didn't knock on the window to ask.
Seeing many Old World Swallowtails on the way to the top that high spot but nothing else. I'm wondering where all the butterflies are. I know of two people who were here before and they found some "northern" flyers. Perhaps it's the prolonged cool weather in Fairbanks.
Oh well, the views are pretty nice!
I head down the other side of the high spot and start slightly down hill past that white building. The landscape is different here - dry but extremely spongy. There are a few lupine blooming and this white flower which I think is Labrador Tea.
I only see a couple of Canadian and Old World Swallowtails flying.
I'm about ready to turn around when I get so lucky -- there's a Alpine flying and he actually lands.
It's a Banded Alpine!!
I also see an Arctic White.
Encouraged, I wander a bit longer
before heading back to my car.
Not as many butterflies as I was hoping to see but still a very successful trip.
On the drive down, there are so many dragonflies flying along/across the dirt road. Never have seen so many! Pretty incredible!!
After a quick lunch, I head over to the Large Animal Research Station at the University of Fairbanks and get there with perfect timing for a 2pm tour.
As I wait, I can hear the baby Musk Ox crying. (cool)
The tour is about 1 hour long talking about both the Musk Ox, Reindeer, and Caribou. There are no Caribou on site anymore - only the Musk Ox and Reindeer.
Fun to see the 6+ baby Musk Ox in a pen with one female with her baby. In the wild, all of the babies would still be with their mothers but they separate them here so they get used to humans and are easier manage when they grow up (and get big).
Good stop!
After the LARS visit, I was originally planning on going to the Museum on campus but I'm pretty tired so it just time to wait for flight.
Incredible trip from Fairbanks to Arctic and back to Fairbanks!! So glad I came!
Butterfly count:
- Arctic White (Fairbanks and Arctic)
- Banded Alpine (Fairbanks and Arctic -- Lifer)
- Lafontaine's Alpine (Arctic - Lifer)
- Disa Alpine (Arctic - Lifer)
- Common Alpine (Fairbanks)
- White Veined Arctic (Arctic)
- Western Tailed Blue (Arctic)
- Silvery Blue (Arctic)
- Freija Frit (Arctic -- Lifer)
- Polaris Frit (Arctic -- Lifer)
- Arctic Frit (Arctic -- Lifer)
- Booth's Sulphur (Arctic -- Lifer)
- Canadian Swallowtail (Fairbanks)
- Old World Swallowtail (Fairbanks and Arctic)
- Green Comma (Fairbanks)
- Large Marble (Fairbanks)
