May 31 - Mormon Trail

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 and Juba Skippers, a Ringlet, a Northern Crescent, a Mylitta Crescent, 

a Orangetip and the 2nd score of the day, a Sleepy Duskywing.

Bleak butterfly day but nice walk and it's nice to see my old friends the Relict Frits.

Hoping it'll get better. (And the parking lot was packed by the time I got back - just a steady stream of people including big groups - amazing!)

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