July 5 - Lambs Canyon

Sunny day with highs in the low 90s. It's a cool morning with temps in the mid-50s.

Heading out this morning to hike up to the top of Lambs Canyon for the 1st time this year. (I got 1/2 way up the 2nd to last switchback a couple of weeks ago but a nature call pushed me back down.)

I have to finish work finish so I left around 8am. Hoping I get a parking spot because its is the day after the 4th so I image that lots of folks are off.

I arrive around 8:30 and there's only car - I'm shocked but happy.

I start up the trail. Tons of Thimbleberry in bloom with many forming berries already (I can't wait). Also lots of Pink/White Gernaniums, as are MeadowRue, Roses, White Columbine, Bluebells, Purple Fleabane, Horsemint, Cow Parsnip, Salsify and many others. And the lupine are in full bloom.

The trail is surrounded by lush green vegetation.

I find a white moth early on.

And then Western Tailed Blue.

I see Frits flying around but hard to get they to stay in any one place. Also, I should've listened to myself last night to charge my battery because it's blinking low battery. Must conserve the battery!

I get passed by a guy on the 2nd switchback I think but while he's still in sight, I see him head straight up the mountain. Show-off!

I continue moving slowing up the mountain stopping for Frit sighting and for quick breaks -- I feel like I'm dogging it this morning. But it's a beauty morning to "dog-it".

Finding Baneberry mostly going to seed.

The meadow is full of movement catching Frits and N. Checkerspots.

Finally, I reach the last switchback. And whose behind me, the guy from earlier. He stops and he says I moving up the mountain really good. Compliment? He's passed me twice. :) But he says he's 50 and I tell him I'm 59. He says that I give him hope he can continue. Made me feel good. (Probably said that because it took so long for him to catch up after his detour.)

Oh well, one long switchback to go!!

And yea! I've made it!!! (1:20 minutes - not bad for the first time!! Expected time is 1 40min)

I look around and take a short break before it's time to head down.

Now I'm seeing orange flyers along the switchback, some are Frits and N Checkerspots but there's one that's different. Could it be a Relict Frit? Couple years back I saw them around the 4th. Lucky me, it lands and yes, it's a Relict Frit!!! (40 42 23.5N 111 40 17.7W - 8055 ft)

Continuing down the butterflies are more active as more of the trail is in the summer. Number of species is not what I expect for July 1st (peak butterfly season) but the Spring weather was quite whacky.

I do see:

W. Admiral (several)

H. Comma (1)

N. Checkerspot

Western Tailed Blue

Parnassian

W. Swallowtail

N. Cloudywing

Mormon Frit

Great Spangled Frit (1) - I think it was female but not 100% sure. Thought it was strange it was the only one I saw. But then, it's only July 5th.

Lilac Bordered Copper (1)

Common Checkered Skipper

Hoary Comma (1)

I ran some Frits thru iNaturalist and they came back Zerene and Great Basin but I'm not sure.

At one point, along the very 1st switchback, I see a Frit that is worth a photo and that's when my camera dies. :(

A bit farther, I pull off for a guy coming up the trail. After he passes, I move maybe 20 ft and I'm starting at 2 Grouse in the middle of the trail. Way cool! I try my camera hoping it has a bit of energy but nothing. No photo other than in my mind. The younger grouse (perhaps a female) moves into the vegetation to the left and the other moves to the right. I start to walk thru and the one on the right takes off and lands in a tree. That spurs the one of the left to fly farther into the forest very cool! First time I've seen Grouse on this trail. (I'm also surprised they didn't spook when that guy past them.)

I continue on and closing in on the curve to the finish when I see 2 orange flyers. The one seems like a N. Checkerspot. The other I'm not sure but it lands. Holy crap! It's a Relict Frit!!! They're flying above 8000 feet and about 6700 feet! Wow! (And I don't have a camera -boo!) So exciting! (40 43 7.5N 111 39 28W - 6737 ft)

Awesome day!




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