The 2021 Utah Adventure

Sunny day with highs near 80 degrees. Heading to the Mormon Trail for the 1st time this season -- it's Relict Frit time!! I arrive before 9am and there's only a couple of cars in the parking area. I start up the trail and cross the bridge. The main trail is flooded so I take the alternate up the steep hill. I walk up to the 2 mile mark and back. The cherry trees are in bud but the strawberries, bluebells, oregon-grape, dandelions, etc are in bloom.  The usually wet areas are no longer wet but there's still a lot of green. Many dragonflies about but the butterflies are scarce today. I know I'm not too early as I've been walking this trail for 9 years now. Is it the late frost/snow or the extreme drought or low snowpack or simply a bad year? I don't know but it'll be interesting to see how the season continues. The good news is that my Relict Frits are flying  as are Two-tailed and Anise Swallowtails  and Large Marbles. I also see a few WTB and Silvery Blues a...

 Cloudy morning with highs near 80 later today. Heading up to hike up to Twin Lakes and perhaps loop back around past Lake Solitude to Silver Lake. I arrive around 7am to a basically parking lot (I hope it stays that way all summer). I make my "normal" head down the right side of the boardwalk. Lake is all melted and appears to have risen over the last week with the continued snow melt.  Many more ducks (Mallards) on the lake and males chasing females thru the air. Soon after I cross the bridge, I spot a lone deer along the trail. I reach the corner and head up towards the switchback. Lots of Avalanche Lilies in bloom now. As I reach the switchback, I see 3 deer on the same slope that I saw many of them last week. On the rocky slopes there are several Pikas - a few pretty close. Lots of snow has melted on the switchback but there is plenty more there. I forego the microspikes and cross. The uphill section has a clear melted path to the right; it's the steep path. Eventual...

 Sunny day with highs in the low 80s. Heading up BCC to hike up to the Cardiff Mine. I'm expecting snow but after the meadow. Oh, maybe in the meadow to in the Avalanche chutes I saw the last time I went up a few weeks ago. I arrive at the roadside parking just before 8am. I'm surprised that I'm the only car in the lot! But gear up (it's in the 40s) and start up the road. At one point a bunny hops across the road ahead of me. I get a glimpse of him in the brush; he's dark brown with white fluffy feet. I reach the gravel road and see a deer cross the road ahead of me. She stops on the side of the road briefly before disappearing. I reach the bridge and the water is flowing stronger but still week relatively to prior years. Up the "trail" I go. It's clear now - just a few small still snow covered spots. The snow along the creek is all gone as well. I'm most of the way to the meadow and still in the woods when a moose crosses the road just in front of...

 Sunny day with highs around 70 degrees. Heading out for a post-work hike up the Desolation to Salt Lake Overlook. I arrive just before 3pm and the parking lot is full; luckily I find one of the final spots. I gear up and head up the trail. The lower parts of trail is definitely transitioning to more Solomon's Seal and Heart-leafed Arnica. Lots of Avalanche Lily seedpods can be seen. Many newer flowers as I head up to the top; namely, Fairy Bells (along the last couple of switchbacks), Larkspur, Woodland Star, and Beardtongues And few of the older ones like Virginia Waterleaf, Mule Ears, Vetch, Oregon Grape, etc. In the spots where the snow was around the longest, the Spring Beauties and Avalanche Lilies are just starting to bloom. And the Oaks have leafed out and the Wild Cherries have buds. Easy trip up and back down. Good day!

 Sunny day forecast with highs in the 60s. Heading up BCC to trek up to Twin Lakes for the 1st time this year. I'm expecting snow on the way up, I just don't know how much is left. I arrive around 7am; the sun is just coming up over the mountains and it's only 28 degrees. Good! The snow will be frozen and easier to walk on. I head out to the boardwalk and boy, what a difference! The snow is all melted! Sure, there might be patches here and there but it's gone! The boardwalk is a little frosty and I find what I assume to be beaver tracks going up and down and off the boardwalk. Maybe I'll see him. The streams are frozen this morning but when the sun comes up, I'm sure they are open.  The same goes for Silver Lake - nice layer of ice for now.  As I cross the footbridge, I see a pair of Mallards feeding. I work my way around the other side and stop because there's something in the water and it doesn't look quite like a log. Hey, it's the beaver!!! I pas...

 Sunny day with highs near 70s. Taking off after work to walk Lambs Canyon road looking for butterflies. This should be one of my last road walks as the gate should be opening soon. I arrive just before 3pm and start up the road. The Forget-me-knots are still blooming all along the road. In spots, Solomon's Seals are about ready to bloom as are the Groundsel  and Heart-leafed Arnica and Bluebells. As I work my way up the road, I find quite a few Orangetips and Blues (a mix of Spring Azures and Western Tailed Blues)  in flight. I also find Rocky Mt Duskywings,  an Anise Swallowtail, Western Swallowtails, CA Tortoiseshells, and Mustard Whites. Near the trail head is so dry; hardly any water along side the road. But I do manage to find a couple of Northern Cloudywings. Going to be a long year without the water. Good day!

 Partly sunny day (Storms possible this afternoon) with temps in the mid-70s. Heading up to Antelope Island in hopes of finding a baby Great Horned Owl (or two). I'm not 100% sure where the nest is but I know where I heard and then saw the male Owl on 2 separate trips so that's where I'm starting. Hey, those Ibis are still hanging out with the cows (and babies just before the entrance. I arrive on the island just after 7am and cross thru the gate. I almost immediately see a coyote on the south side of the road moving west. He's stop occasionally so I keep chasing from the road. While watching him, I see a Curlew (which flies as the coyote passes)  and several Kildeer. After a bit, I decide to leave the coyote along and continue along the causeway. Still plenty of birds where there is water; lots of Avocets. I reach the island and head south towards the Ranch. At the 1st pull-off is a Willet and a Horned Lark. I continue along slowing down to where I've seen Burrowin...