June 28 - Mormon Trail

 Another sunny day with temps in the low 90s. Heading out to the Mormon Trail this morning. Maybe I'll actually do 3 miles today?!

55 degrees when I start up the trail. Got to remember that the days are getting shorter now so I need to come later or walk farther to see butterflies.

Spittlebugs are out.

Calm day on the walk out to the pond. Lots of birds - even this Green Tailed Towhee.

I'm seeing a number of W Admirals and that's it. Not surprising though because I'm still in the shade.

I reach the meadow and it's not much more active; maybe because it is very dry. We could really use some rain at this point.


The Bflys pick up after the pond especially the Frits. Seeing GSF and a number of Great Basin Frit (as ID'd by iNaturalist) even 2 doing the mating dance.

I do go past the 2 mile marker but no very; it was pretty dead.

Also saw White Shouldered Bumblebee.



On the way back it definitely got more active.

18 bugs in total including:

  • W. Swallowtail
  • Clodius Parnassian
  • Ringlet
  • Small Wood Nymph (1st time)
  • N. Checkerspot
  • WTB
  • Boisduvals Blue
  • Common Checkered Skipper
  • GSF
  • GB Frit
  • N. Cloudywing
  • Dreamy Duskywing
  • M Crescent
  • P. Copper
  • LB Copper
  • Russet Skipperling (I was looking for these today as they were flying at Lambs Canyon on Tues)
  • N. Crescent
  • Cabbage White
Awesome day!

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