July 28 - Antelope Island (Burrowing Owls gone wild!)

Sunny day with the highs near 90. Should be a hiking day but I'm too sore for a backpack so I'm heading up to Antelope Island to see what the animals are doing (or not).

I arrive just before 8am. Crossing the causeway, I'm seeing lots of gulls and avocets. And I'm surprised to find more water in Farmington Bay than I expected - that's a good thing!

I head south down towards the Ranch. Boy it's a great day for a hike here but just not possible. :(

I see one bison in the distance before I reach the first turn. I don't see another one until I find a lone bull across from Frary Peak in the green grasses.

It isn't until after the Frary Homestead before I see more bison; a decent size family herd up against the mountains.

There are more on the other side of the plateau and some on the other side of the street. Those on the east side of the road and marching south.

Not much farther of the road, the Ranch is in sight and this is where all the bison are. There's a large, long herd marching towards the Ranch and more in the distance down near the Sentry Trail parking.

I park at the Ranch and head towards the wooded are to look for the Great Horned Owls but I detour down towards the fence line to watch the bison go by.

Some are heading towards the woods so I only do a very quick look for Owls - don't want to run into a bison in there!

I then head south towards the Sentry Trail past a long line of bison. They continue all the way to the end of the accessible road. I get out to watch them. Wish I knew where they are going but it south.

I think about a quick hike to Mushroom Springs but there are a couple of bison there so I just continue north to hopefully find some Burrowing Owls or Pronghorn.

I roll up the hill where I've seen Burrowing Owls once and wow, there are a several owls out! I stop and enjoy! First time I've ever seen the babies!! Woo hoo!

I count 7. There are 2 houses so I think there are 2 families but not sure if the owlets are from one family or both. Very cool!

I continue north and over to the west side of the island. Hey, there's a lone Pronghorn in the field behind the Visitor's Center!

I check for more Pronghorn/Owls under Bison Point but find nothing.

So I head to check out owls behind the Visitor's Center. Unfortunately, there's a group of kids on bikes parked where the owls usually are but I find one a bit farther north.

I really want to check the other spot so I turn around at the Visitor's Center and head back. Thankfully the kids have rolled on and there are Owls! I turn around and watch.

The 2 adults are out with one baby.

I watch the baby drop to the ground. I think he's scared and hundling next to the pole one of the adults is standing on. Soon, he pops out to the side.

There's lots of squawking; I think from the burrow. The adult drops into the burrow for a short period of time. I'm hoping more of the babies hop out. But it's just the one.

Time to move on.

Oh, I see a Monarch fly by - 1st of the year!

Great day!

July 24 - Mormon Trail

Sunny day with highs in the mid-90s today.

Had plans to hike the Mill D South trail today but torn some muscles in my chest (I think) last Sunday and I'm sore so choosing to visit the Mormon Trail. It's flatter and shorter and there are butterflies still flying so it's time to find out was it flying.

I arrive around 10am and there are many folks in the lot - shocking but it's a Mormon holiday (Pioneer Day).

I start up the trail and happy to note that all the water is finally gone from the trail (no steep hill to climb today).

Seeing lots of Frits even at the start. Great Spangled and Callippe are flying and there are definitely others.

The thistle is also in bloom. Usually a good Great Spangled attractant but nothing so far.

Soon I find my first butterfly that actually stopped. I think it's a Lilac Border Copper initially but upon a closer look - it's a Tailed Copper! My first one ever in Utah! Great start!

I continue along finding mostly Frits; it is late in the season and it's very dry this year.

I do see Common Checkered Skipper,

Weidenmeyer's Admiral, Boisduval's Blue,

I'm also seeing Small Wood Nymphs hopping around.

I finally reach the start of the meadow where the Mormon Camp was. Here I'm finding a small orange skipper (and it's not a Woodland Skipper). I think it's a European (Essex) Skipper. These are definitely not on the range map for Utah but they are invasive and must be moving in. Note: this is not the first time I've seen them here.

I continue over to the pond. On way way, I here/is a large bird screeching in the air. He finally lands. I think it's a Red Tailed Hawk.

I move on and eventually he takes off screeching again. Not sure what he was upset about but he did finally disappear.

I reach the pond. As I go past, I find a Satyr Comma enjoying some mud with 2 GSF males. There's more of the European Skippers finally here as well.

I continue past to the mud hole on the other side of the dam. On the way there, I see a dark butterfly and get a quick look before he flies. Looked like a Coral Hairstreak. Fortunately, he doesn't go far and yes, it's a Coral Hairstreak!!!

I reach the "mud area"; it's dry and there's no butterflies except a Northern Crescent.

This is as far as I'm going today; I'm not pushing it.

I work my way back to the pond. When I get there, I circle around finding a Ruddy Copper,

a Sylvan Hairstreak,

a Purplish Copper, and Checkered White.

At some point on my way back to the parking lot, I hear something large moving through vegetation ahead of me. I can't see because of the trees but I get a peek and it's a moose! A bull with velvet on his horns. I quickly move back trying to find a big tree but not successful. I hear the noise stop and I wait.

I'm pretty sure he is still there but after a few minutes, I see what looks like a moose crossing over farther ahead of me. If he moved, he was so silent; pretty amazing.

I inch forward looking around with every step and he's gone. Wow!

I continue along. I think I saw a Colorado Hairstreak butterfly but he was flying.

Awesome day!

July 19 - Twin Lake Loop to Pass (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny with a high near 100 again today.

Heading up to walk the Twin Lake loop again and head up to the Pass Flower were getting good last week, need to check them out again and look for butterflies.

I leave my house around 6:45. When I get to the Silver Lake parking, there are openings but are filling fast.

I make a quick beeline to the trail and start on my way to Lake Solitude.

Flowers are filling in but lots of Horsemint!!

Quiet walk stopping to see a lone male deer on the hillside.

Wait, I hear branches snapping. Oh, it's another buck with a bigger rack!

Soon I reach Lake Solitude and notice a lone deer on the other side. Nope, she's not alone; she's has a fawn.

Time to head up the hill and look for butterflies in the flowers. Hoping for something even though it's early.

I get to the other side of the lake and I see a Frit. It's a small one, think Mormon.

I get higher and see another one.

And a bit higher, a Lilac Bordered Copper!!

I reach the top; lakes are looking good this morning but time to head up to the Pass trail.

Again, many more flowers but they are still in the shade, maybe butterflies on the way down.

I reach the trail and head to the trail and start my way to the Pass.

Flowers are more abundant and looking awesome but still not there yet (but close).

I walk the trail slowly enjoying the flowers, the tons of bees and looking for butterflies.

There's not many flying but I do see a Boisduval's Blue

and a Lupine Blue

and a Green Hairstreak (love the Hairsteak)!

I reach the Pass, find a rock and take a break. What an awesome day!

After a short rest, it's time to head back thru the flowers. Along the way I see a Parnassian and a few more Boisduval's Blue.

Before I reach Twin Lakes I spot a young marmot

and a blooming Fireweed - the count down to winter has begun. :(

Time to head back down to Twin Lakes. Many people there so I continue down finding a couple of Lilac Bordered Coppers along the way.

I reach the switchback; cool, there's no one around so I can look for Pika. No Pika :(

Then it's down to Silver Lake. Wow, so many family groups on this stretch. I pull off the trail (to promote social distancing) and get weird looks. I say "hi" to people and I get no response. Strange world we live in; I need to find another way to avoid all these people or I can't come here anymore.

Otherwise, great day!

July 14 - Mirror Lake Hwy Butterflying

Sunny day with the high near 90 degrees.

Heading up to cooler temperature at 10,000 to do some butterflying.

First stop is the Pass Lake Parking (or the Lofty Loop parking). It's sunny and in the mid-50s but it doesn't feel cool nor are there many mosquitoes (that's a good thing).

My legs are tanked from prior hikes so I'm goal is not to head to Lofty Lake but I'm heading that way. Lots of flowers along the way.

I stop at Scout Lake to check out the wonderful flowers (and potential butterflies).

No butterflies but the flowers are sure pretty especially the Shooting Stars

and Elephant Head.

I decide at this point to head back to the trail head. I'm sure the butterflies may be awesome at the Lake but my legs are tanked so I head back stopping to watch a Clark's Nutcracker

Along the way, I find Purplish Frits flying!!!

I get back to my car and decide to head down the trail to Cuberant Lakes trail as in less than 1 mile I'll hit a wet areas which may have more butterflies.

Still seeing Purplish Frits,

blue damselflies and a really pretty dragonfly - Boreal Whiteface possibly.

I reach the meadow in front of Reids Peaks.

Not much but the Scudder's Sulpurs are flying.

I reach my turn around point at a bridge and head back to my car.

It's after 11am, so I head to the Highline Trail parking. There is usually a wet area and should be lots of flowers.

And yes, the water and the flowers are there (and the flowers are incredible).

I head out into the flowers seeing more Scudder's Sulphurs and an Anise Swallowtail.

I also see a couple of Blues that are flying.

I head over to the water and find some Purplish Frits

a Scudder's Sulphur

a Grizzled Skipper

and a Purplish Coppers.

I have lunch and then check out some more flowers. Either I missed the peak flight or I'm still early.

Next stop is Murdock Peak. I head up the little hill and get blasted with strong wind. I think it's time to go home.

Great day!

July 13 - Snake Creek Pass (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Another mostly sunny day with highs in the 90s.

Heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon to hike up to Snake Creek Pass. As always I'm hoping for butterflies but it's early in the day so I'm not expecting much.

Cool morning with temps at the trail head around 59 degrees. The trail up the hill is still in the shade as the sun is not up high enough. Lots more flowers than the last time I was here. Tons of Lupine!

Trail is empty except for a deer I see moving to the west.

I finally run into a group of folks just before the Dog Lake turn-off; I slow down/stop to keep my distance.

They've stopped at the turn-off for a break, I just go around and continue towards Dog Lake.

I find a large patch of vegetation that is flattened to the ground; I'm hoping laying moose caused this patch and not a herd of humans.

I look toward the lake but no moose; just a good number of mosquitoes buzzing around. Gotta keep moving.

I continue along thru the woods. Along the way I find, Heartleaf Arnica, Buttercups, Spring Beauty, Paintbrush and lots of Lupine in bloom/or ready to bloom.

Each little section of trail is at a different point of plants growth. One section still has some snow!

Before I know it, I reach the gravel road to the Pass. 

Nice very looking east this morning!

I decide to head left towards Clayton Peak for the first time. I make it to the big left turn and a steeper hill to the ski lift. Just didn't feel like going higher because it's in the shade = no butterflies.

I head don't to the Pass and then back up hill to the other ski lift. Last time I was here, there was little to no vegetation. Today, there's vegetation just no flower yet.

Along the way I see a few Frits and what I think is a Milbert's Tortoiseshell. Oh! and a Parnassian.

I make to my normal stopping point and enjoy a short rest.

Time to head back down (hoping to beat the spotty rain storms I can see moving in).

I do find a Mormon Frit next to my turn-off trail.

And see one Blue flying (and a hummingbird) in the meadow near Dog Lake.

Good day!