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!