June 5 - Mormon Trail

Sunny and heading towards 98 degrees in the valley. So with a short work day, I'm heading a little higher to look for butterflies.

I arrive just before 9am at the Mormon Trail. I'm the only one here. (yea!)

As I walk towards the bridge, I see/hear a couple of Yellow Warblers.

Then I cross the bridge and see if the trail is passable yet - only if I want to wade through the creek. So it's over to the steep hillside again. Someones should bring a shovel and make some steps to make this easier.

I get up the hill and immediately start seeing Boisduvals Blues.

The Lupine, MeadowRue, Salisfy, Geraniums, Cinquefoil, Tall Jacobs Ladder, Choke Cherries are now in bloom along the trail. After the 2 mile marker, the season is earlier and I see Heartleafed Arnica and Purple Violets in bloom. I find the White Columbine but its still in bloom.

My goal is the 3 mile mark; see if I make it.

It's definitely a good butterfly day!

The Northern Checkerspots are now flying

with Northern and Field Crescents.

Anise Swallowtails

and Western Tailed Swallowtails are providing yellow flashes in the sky and lots of Ringlets are bouncing around at ground level

The Blues are flying: Boisduvals,

Western Tailed, a Dotted Blue and even the Spring Azure and a Silvery Blue are hanging on.

The Relict Frits are flying (and being harassed by a Field Crescent; actually, the male Field Crescent was courting the wrong species)

and I see what I believe is a Mormon Frit (1st of the season)

and a larger Orange Frit unknown.

Many Painted Ladies today along with a few Orangetips and Large Marbles hanging on still.

I find Juba Skippers, Checkered Skipper, Northern Cloudywings,

and Rocky Mt Duskywings.

Highlights for me: my first Weidemeyers Admiral (I saw only one today)

fresh Dreamy Duskywings (2+ miles into the trail and higher in elevation and more recent snow melt)

and Brown Elfin;

2 of them. I saw the first one; it's brown there's nothing else it could be especially in early June. Then farther along I saw another brown flyer. He's beaten but a Brown Elfin!! First one on this trail ever!

Also past the 2 mile mark is a Mourning Cloak and CA Tortoiseshell.

And at the Pond, White Faced Dragonflies mating. (lots of dragonflies flying today)

 Awesome day!