April 24 - Lambs Canyon Rd

Partly cloudy day in the mid-50s. It's beautiful day except the north wind is a bit nippy.

Heading back to Lambs Canyon to see what may be flying today.

First of all, the road is pretty much melted out to the trail head. There are large patches of snow in spots but there enough clear road that one does not have to walk on snow anymore. Yea!

Two, those black moths with one spots are still flying and I'm am able to finally get a photo of one.

Not as many of those small orange moths out today.

Also out are the Mourning Cloaks (I counted 4 along the road), Satyr Commas,

and Green Commas!!

I actually think there were more Green Commas out than Satyr Commas.

I took a brief walk along the trail and it's changing to as the first part that winds through the trees is partially snow free; pretty exciting.

But once I reach the straight part, of course, it's still snowy. And it's either hard icy snow or very soft so I don't make it nearly as far because I get tired of banging my shins as I post hole.

However, I see butterflies!! Two to be exact! One Mourning Cloak

and one Green Comma.

Both are on a 10 foot stretch of trail. Awesome!

On the way back, I find my first blooming Spring flower of the year - Bluebell

Good Day!

April 21- Lambs Canyon Road

Mostly sunny day with highs near 70. It's an awesome day to take a break from work and get out an enjoy. Again, because of the virus, the canyons here in the Valley are not an option for me. :( (Maybe when people go back to work.....)

So heading up to Lambs Canyon road again. A little over a week ago, saw a number of Mourning Cloaks and Commas. A couple days ago, because of colder temperatures and snow, I didn't see any. Today, I'm armed with my camera so I'm hoping for butterflies!!!

Many more plants peeking out from the soil.

Not far up the road, I see my 1st Mourning Cloak of the day!

Unfortunately, my camera won't take a picture....ah, there it goes.

The snow continues to melt from the road. Spots covered in snow a few days ago are just a wet patches on the asphalt and in other places, well, there's still snow but it's a bit less thick.

I see another butterfly and a whole bunch of those tiny orange moths. My camera is not working; it says Memory Card Error. That can't be good. Guess it's back to the camera phone which doesn't work so well on butterflies. :(

The butterfly is a CA Tortoiseshell. 1st of the year!!

I continue on to the trail head. There butterflies out but just not nearly as many as 1.5 weeks ago.

I find a couple of Satyr Commas in a muddy patch near the parking.

Definitely not as many flyers as I hope but still nice to get out in the fresh air, sunshine and walk along a flowing creek.

April 18 - Antelope Island Drive

The UT governor yesterday days removed the "County Resident Only" restrictions on most of the State Parks in Utah!! (Yea!) The Southeast corner Parks are still restricted.

So its more that past time to get back up to Antelope Island to see what birds are along the Causeway and get a peek at those baby bison because they are here!

I arrive before 8am to partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-30s.

Along the causeway, yes, the birds have arrived. I see tons of American Avocets

a couple of Sandpipers?? or perhaps a Willet;

lots of Northern Shovelers and Eared Grebes and of course Gulls.

I reach the island and to left to head down to the Ranch.

As I just passed behind the Visitor's Center, I spot a lone Pronghorn not too far from the road.

And there's a Western Meadowlark right across from me singing up a storm!!

Continuing on, near the start of the Gravel Pit Trail dirt road, I see a car pulled off. Hey, there are a few bison up the hill a bit.

And more on the ridge just to the south. Appears there are bison around trail.

And there a still more just a little south of them.

As I approach the White Rock ridge, I see a herd of Mule Deer marching long towards the north and slowly uphill. Nice surprise!

Around Frary Peak area, I stop again for a singing Meadowlark.

There are a few hawks perched in the trees along the lake bed across from Frary Peak.

And a pheasant running thru the grasses. I only get a quick glimpse of him and his long tail.

Pretty quiet for a bit when I see a little herd of bison ahead. I'm hoping for Moms and babies but just males relaxing on the lake bed.

And there's a Willet nearby.

As I approach the spot where the bison do like raising their calves, I find bison!! And there are babies!! Really hard to find in the tall grasses but they are there.

There are more bison in the distance along the lake bed. I'm sure there are babies out there too. I'll check on my return.

I reach the Ranch and just continue down the dirt road towards the Sentry Trail parking. Behind the parking area is another herd of Mule Deer. This is definitely the Ranch herd as they have blue ear tags which I remember from earlier.

I continue along until I reach the end of the road, turn around and head back to the Ranch.

There are only a couple of cars so I decide to see if I can find one of the Great Horned Owls.

I get to the wooded area and there's a guy with a long camera lens pointed into the trees. He indicates there's an owl. I don't want to get near him so I look around in the woods without and luck. And then head out of the fenced area behind and old building (the guy is in front of the building). I'm looking in the trees and success!!

(I still hope the other is on the nest and if so, the nest should be nearby.)

Time to head north!

I stop again to check out the bison herd. Yep! Babies!

I'm out of my car and turn to head back in when a herd of Pronghorn coming sprinting down the hill on the other side of the road in back of me.

They turn left and sprint at an angle past me on the hillside.

It looks like they will cross the road in front of  me but there are bikers coming. They stop, clearly nervous and start backtracking.

After the bikers pass, they reverse direction and cross the road running through the grasses and are heading towards the bison.

How cool was that!! (Right place, right time!!)

I move my car up and bit to keep searching the bison herd for babies.

And then it's time to move on.

Just past the viewpoint, I see a lone Chukkar on a rock.

I reach the north side of the island and see that lone Pronghorn again. But he's not alone now. There's one other visible!

I cross over to the west side of the island and am immediately greeted by one bison on the right and 4 on the left.

Just before the Bison Point turnoff, there are two bison on the right and a long bison on the left crunching grass along the side of the road. Love to hear that sound!!

I turn right towards the White Rock trail. There's 3 bison on the left and I see some in the distance along the actual White Rock Trail.

Great day so far!! Time to head home!

April 17 - Lambs Canyon Rd

Its a partly cloudy day with highs in the mid/upper 50s. Definitely a break from 2 days of cold and rain (and snow here).

Heading back to Lambs Canyon for a walk. I don't expect butterflies today; it's been cold with snow in the higher elevations. (And it's only in the 40s when I set off on my walk.) But I do have my camera today just in case.

After a week, the road is much more clear of snow than snow covered. But there is plenty of snow especially the last 1/2 mile of so.

There's signs of freezing temperature visible along the stream as there are icicles on the low branches.

I can see the signs of fresh snow on the road and west side of the road. Looks wonderful!

And there is life as plants are starting to emerge.
Bluebells (w/ their fuzz for warmth)

Waterleaf

Biscuitroot

I reach the trail head, find a rock to put on my microspikes. I'm heading up the trail for a bit. It'll be a first since I've never been on the trail when it's snow covered.

The first step is to cross the foot bridge. The water is flowing fast below it.

The bridge is melting out and all that's left to walk on is about a 1 foot wide and 2 foot high strip of snow. I tread lightly across.

Then it's a left turn, right turn, left turn ... as I zig zag up the first part of the trail before it finally straightens out. It's snow covered and so beautiful!!

I find a couple of old sets of tracks in the snow. Not rabbit, I'm betting squirrel.

I also find a tiny insect walking on top of the snow.

I continue along trudging through the snow. The snow is solid except the fresh stuff.

I go perhaps a 1/4 mile of so before stopping.

I want to continue but too much snow for me.

Time to head back.

Great day!

April 10 - Lambs Canyon Road

Well the Covid 19 virus is travelling around the world after originating in Wuhan China. The US has been on locked down since the middle of March in an attempt to slow/stop the spread.

Here' in Utah, all unnecessary travel has been asked to stop. Schools are closed, I'm working from home, many National Parks are closed, State Parks are county residents, ... But thankfully, Utah, at the time of this writing, has just over 1200 cases and 13 deaths. Not quite huge pandemic that was anticipated thankfully but the situation is fluid.

So that means hiking opportunities have not been available for me as everyone is out and about making the trail too crowded for me to want to go out (and Antelope Island is outside my county so I can't go).

But today, I'm breaking my streak of non-hiking and heading up to a place I know will not be crowded, will probably still have snow and perhaps I'll see some overwintering butterflies.

It's sunny and in the mid-60s, when I arrive at the roadside parking for the closed Lambs Canyon Rd. I have no camera; hopefully that will not be a mistake (but I do have my phone camera).

I start off on clear dry roads. The visible slopes are snow free (especially the west facing slopes). The creek is running and sounds awesome.

It's still too early for plants emerging but soon.

And it isn't long before I see a Comma and then there's a Mourning Cloak! Happiness!!

There are also many tiny orange moths flying and I do see a couple of those black moths with white spots that typically drive me crazy in early Spring.

About a 1/2 mile, I reach snow on the road and it continues the remaining mile or so to the actual trail head. In some spots its only a couple of inches and others up to 1.5 feet; it's all depends how much sun is hitting the road.

But the butterflies are still flying. Without my camera or binocs, I can't tell whether the Commas are Hoary or Satyr. :( But they're butterflies!!

I finally reach the trail head. The good muddy spot by the parking is open with water and mud. And I find a Mourning Cloak and Comma there too!

I'm tempted to walk the actual trail for a peek but I don't have my YakTrak so it's a no-go. Next time because this will be a weekly walk for a while.

Nice to be out again. (Now if the virus will go away with the warmer weather like all other flus and respitory issues.)