July 12 - Mormon Trail

Sunny day with record setting temps around 104. Whew!

Heading out to hike the Mormon Trail to see what's still out there.

I arrive around 8am and I'm the only car at this time. (Lots of folks out on the road though.)

It's sunny and clear as I start off.

When I break out of the trees, I hear this bird constantly screeching. I find a smaller bird at the top of a tall tree; it's a Kestrel.

I leave him be but he follows me just down the trail into a tall tree still screeching. Thankfully, I just move on and he stays. I'm assuming there's a nest within that section of trail.

Lots of birds flitting a bout. And the clover, at least in the beginning part of the trail, is starting to fade. And it's getting very dry out - we've had little to no rain since May. Even that second water crossing is now dry despite having water last week.

I do find some Monkshood in bloom. And the Spittlebugs are still out. And I find more sleeping bees.

Very quiet morning butterfly-wise only seeing a few European Skippers.

Crossing past the pond, I find the Monkeyflower in bloom.

Past the pond, I'm seeing Great Spangled Frits now - and still just males.

There is one big surprise - a Melissa Blue - Annetta species (looks like a Northern Blue but they do not inhabit Utah). This is a cool find!! N 40 49.7439 W 111 36.571

Also the Policecar Moths are in flight now.

Also caught up with 2 dragonfly species: the Pale Snaketail (out by the 3 mile marker)

8-spotted Skimmer (around the pond)

I head out to the 3 mile marker today before turning around.

I've see:

- Unknown White

- Clouded Sulphur

- Western Tiger Swallowtail

- Great Spangled Frits

- Zerene Frit

- Gray Hairstreak (2nd week in a row)

- Weidemeyers Admiral

- Boisduvals Blue

- Melissa Blue (**)

- Lilac Bordered Copper

- Blue Copper (1st of the season)

- Northern Checkerspots

- Mylitta Crescent (2nd week in a row)

- Painted Lady

- Satyr Comma

- Northern Cloudywing

- European Skipper (many)

- Taxiles Skipper (cool find!)

- Russets Skipperling

- Common Checkered Skipper

Back to my car it was only 83 degrees.

Awesome day!

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