July 21 - Mormon Trail

 Sunny another day near 100 degrees.

This was supposed to be Day 1 of my Yosemite (high country) trip BUT my flight got cancelled. At least it was cancelled before I was at the airport AND at least I was able to rebook but the new flight isn't until Tuesday AM so I'm missing 2 Yosemite days. This all thanks to the CrowdSource security patch that was rolled out and caused massive outages to businesses, airlines, banks, hospitals.... heads should roll.

So I'm going to hike the Mormon Trail today.

It's a beautiful 63 degrees when I arrive with a light wind around 8am. I need to start coming later because the sun is coming up later.

Lots of birds singing this morning but as expected the trail is devoid of butterflies this early.

The flowers are slowly fading now.

I do see tons of little white moths - they must've hatched. Very confusing times when looking for butterflies with all these little flyers around.

And the Police car moths are also out.

I arrive in the meadow and checkout this oddly green grasshoppers on some thistle.

Still no butterflies as I pass by the pond but the dragonflies are out.

First butterfly of the day is a Great Spangled Frit followed by Weidemeyers Admirnal.

Happily I see 5 female GSF but they just fly - very frustrating.

I also pass thru 3 clutches of Grouse. Scared me very time!

Oh, I see my first bunny here and he was ripping down the trail.

I also see a few "other" Frits never to be identified. It's late in the season, the pick 'ems are getting scarce.

I head out probably past the 2.5 mile mark - a wet crossing - and it's time to turn around. Going to 3 miles has not been active and at this point I'm just killing time for more sunshine.

A bit more active on the return with a very exciting spotting of a Colorado Hairstreak near the dam.

And a Great Basin Wood Nymph.

All told I saw:

- Western Swallowtail (surprised)

- Two-tailed Swallowtail (surprised)

- Clouded Sulphur (this is a good year for them)

- LB Copper

- Blue Copper

- Euro Skipper

- Common Checkered Skipper (1)

- N. Checkerspot (1)

- M. Crescent (1)

- W Admiral

- GSF (males and females - for the 1st time)

- CO Hairstreak

- Duskywing (probably a very old RMD)

- Misc. Frit - one looked very pale and could be a Callippe. 

- Small WoodNymph

- Mourning Cloak (another surprise)

Good day!



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