April 13 - Lambs Canyon Rd

Sunny day and near record temps are forecast for today (we set records yesterday with temps near 80 degrees). 

Time to get up the canyon and check for some overwintering flyers.

Arrive at the parking at the gate. I was confused that the gate was open but there were canyons residents hauling out one of their snow vehicles.

The road clear and the start and I'm seeing butterflies!! Mourning Cloaks, 

CA Tortoiseshells

 and Hoary Commas 

and Green Commas. 


Very cool!

As I head up, the road becomes a mix of pavement and snow. Still seeing the same butterflies.

Then after a 1/4-1/2 mile, the road becomes snow covered.

Only seeing a few Mourning Cloaks now.

Water along the road is moving - the snowmelt has started.

Looking at the west side, there's still 3'sh feet of snow alongside the river.

As I near the trail head, there is melt out on the side of the road and the usual roadside stream. And here the butterfly activity picks up with Mourning Cloaks and Commas. Hard to take photos as one land and another comes by and they go swirling up into the air. But I manage few.

I also seeing butterflies in an open spot near the pit toilet. It requires sinking calf deep in snow by I manage to photograph another Hoary Comma. 

I head down to the bridge (which still has 3 feet of snow on top). The view is nice up stream.

But very sad to see an orange doggy doo-doo bag sitting on the other side of the bridge. The bag is bad enough but Lambs Canyon is a dog-free place as it is a watershed. People suck!

Time to head back.

Awesome day! Time to start coming after work!



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