June 20 - Mormon Trail (2 miles)

 Sunny day with temps in the mid-90s; a bit of a cool down from yesterday's 103.

Heading up to the Mormon Trail to hunt for butterflies. I've missed the last 2 weeks so I image things will be "hopping".

I arrive around 8:30 and the temp is in the upper 60s.

I make my way thru the woods to the TH and quickly a doe.

As I starting to walk off, I notice there's a buck as well. They run off into the woods together. Great start!!

Also the Salisfy is having it's 2nd bloom.

I don't even get thru the start when I see my 1st butterfly: a Boisduval's Blue.

Yea, the clover is in-bloom (nectar source), as are the Roses, Dogbane, MeadowRue and many others.

I wasn't expecting  much on the hike but seeing lots of Ringlets and Weidemeyer's Admirals. Oh, and a few Relict Frits (nice to see they are still flying).

There are also N. Crescents and many, many N. Checkerspots. Lots of Ringlets, Admirals, and Checkerspots today!!

Near the camp, I spot a dragonfly.

And at the pond, here's proof of the number of W. Admirals are out. Never seen numbers like this before that I can remember.

I check behind the dam and the mud is all dry. So much for easy butterflying at a mud hole. :(

Hey, I see my 1st Great Spangled Frit today!!

Surprise of the day is that Dreamy Duskywings are still flying!

The walk was hopping with butterflies today! Love to see that!

And I get a close-up of a Parnassian (crappy close-up but...)

I end the day with a Satyr Comma heading back thru the woods along the river.

All total for the day, 19 species!!!







- Two Tailed and Western Tiger Swallowtails

- Clodius Parnassian 

- Satyr Comma

- Weidemeyers Admiral

- Great Spangled Frit

- Relict Frit

- WTB (there were beaten up)

- Boisduvals Blue

- N. Checkerspot

- N. Crescent

- Mylitta Cresent

- N Cloudywing

- RMD (I don't think this RMD - looking Afranius)


- Dreamy Duskywing

- Purplish Copper

- LB Copper

- Ringlet

- Common Checkered Skipper

Awesome day!



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