May 29 - Deep Creek Canyon (Juab County)

Sunny and low 80s for today. My original plans were to hike in the snowy (but melting) mountains. But then an opportunity came to do some butterflying with the local Lep Society to somewhere I've never been. I've got to go -- but I know I'll have to watch them collect the butterflies - which is something I'm just not used to.

Heading to Deep Creek Canyon just south of Levan UT in Juab County (about 1.5-2 hrs south of Salt Lake). Just a handful of folks - 6 adults and 3 kids (2 infants).

It's a left turn a few miles south of Levan. The Deep Creek Canyon Wildlife Management area is a narrow (in spots) dirt road that eventually dead ends in less than 10 miles. The elevation starts around 5650 ft and ends about 1000 ft higher at Slide Rock Hollow (that's from the only information I can find on-line.)

As we head up, the canyon is on the left and a mountain side on the right. Mostly open and sunny but there are sections that are under the shade of trees. Lots of oak here and with leaves (which are not present yet around SLC).

Many butterflies flying: duskywings, and 2-tailed, Western and Pale Swallowtails as we drive along. We stop about 1/2 way up and walk the road up (or east).

Continue to see all three Swallowtails all day. This Pale Swallowtail was a victim of a heavy net swipe - tore wing :(

Both Rocky Mt Duskwings and Northern Cloudywings (another victim) were patrolling the roads.

Many Sagebrush Checkerspots out too!

Including a mated pair.

I also caught up with several Western Tailed Blues

and a Silvery Blue.

We also saw a Weidenmeyers Admiral (1st one of the year), Hoary Comma, Common Ringlets and a Juba Skipper.

It was recommended we head into the canyon but it was a little steep (I think only one person went down).

At one point, we see an AZ Sister which was quickly netted. (Again 1st one of the year.) I walked back with the leader to the car to put the bfly on ice (for my photo -- which didn't unfortunately turn out).

But while we were waiting and Queen flies by. (Looks a little like a Monarch -- not too common in UT).  Despite my failed photo, the AZ Sister was added to a collection.

As we wander back to the cars, I see another orange flyer -- didn't really take a good look just thought it was a Mylitta Crescent. Then I get home ... it's a Pale Crescent! (This was one of the "potential species" for today.)

After about an hour, we moved up to the end of the road. No more canyon on the left - just the mountainside. Wandering around this area, I see more Western Tailed Blues and a Northern Cresent.

As we move the end of the road, a Painted Lady caterpillar was found. (They make nests.)

I move on to the end of the road. On the right, is a creek. Here we quickly spotted a Painted Lady and a Red Admiral (actually 2) females laying eggs. A couple of folks were collecting the eggs to raise.

I move to the left and quickly see 2 Two-banded Skippers (beautiful) -- a mated pair. Very cool! I've only seen these high in the mountains.

I call folks over and the pair were quickly netted for a collection after I was done with photos. (Ugh! OK that one hurt a little. But it made someone happy too.)

From there I wandered to the creek, plenty of Rocky Mt Duskywings, Northern Cloudywings

and Western Tailed Blues here.

And then down the road to see California Tortoiseshell caterpillars. But first, a Large Marble is caught (and released).

The CA Tortoiseshell eggs were laid last Fall. (Those were collected.)

We also manage to see 1 CA Tortoiseshell on wing as well as one of the first Coronis Frits.

We also see a Mourning Cloak.

I wander over to an area that had many blooming flowers. There I see Field Crescents

An Orangetip is caught in the net away down the road from me. I see the butterfly (it's a different subspecies from the ones I've been seeing around here recently). It's added to a collection.

Other critters viewed today include a lizard

And a dragonfly.

Good day!

May 20 - Buckhorn Wash Drive

Perfectly sunny morning already in the 50s with a high near 70 expected. My plan is to drive back home thru Buckhorn Wash enjoying the scenery (including red rock) and hunting for butterflies (if they are flying).

Since I want to the temperatures to warm before driving thru the Wash (and I don't want to sit in my hotel room until 10am), I decide to drive back to Little Wild Horse Canyon to check for bflys there. I know, it's still cool there but at least I'm doing something semi-productive (and maybe I'll get lucky).
And it's under an hour one-way so why not!

Scenery looks great this morning with the sunny skies (as opposed to the cloudy sky yesterday). I'm not sure if I'll see butterflies at LWH Canyon, but I do see 4 Pronghorn behind a cattle fence to the left. And several miles down the road, there's another herd of three. Then there's the Hawk
sitting on a fence post looking east. And finally, a herd of Pronghorn to the right. Not too bad for a morning drive!!!

I arrive around 9:15 (earlier than yesterday) at LWH Canyon. Lots of folks here already! I grab my camera and start down the Wash looking for butterflies. Seeing nothing but lots of lizards running around.

I take a side trail for about a 1/2 mile, still no butterflies.

I then continue down the Wash to the entrance of the canyon. Looks a bit brighter today.

But so many folks. Yesterday, the groups were mostly 2 people. Today, it's families, scouting groups, ... So glad I came yesterday!! I walk back up the Wash to my car without a single butterfly sighting. :( Still a good trip!

On the way back to the HWY 70, I look for the 3 Pronghorn groups I saw earlier. I only see the group on the right (and only one of them).

Time to head east on HWY 70 to Exit 131 (the Buckhorn Wash dirt road).

But first, I have to stop to enjoy the view before entering the San Rafael Swell ("large anticline where the earth's crust has been heaved from below to form a great dome of rock layer" but millions of years of erosion have exposed those layer.

What an incredible rugged landscape!)

And then after crossing over into the Swell, I make a stop to view Black Dragon Canyon.

I continue on to my exit -- now starts a wonderful 49 mile drive north to Castle dale. As soon as I turn onto the dirt road, bright dark red paintbrush blooms catch my eye. Although there isn't a pull-off, this is a dirt road with few cars, so I stop to check out the blooms!!

I continue on looking at the scenery and looking for animals (deer, pronghorn,...).

As I come around a corner, animals catch my eye. I stop in the road; they're wild burros!!!! I pull forward hoping to get closer but the road is under the embankment (I can't see the animals.) So I stop and climb the little hill and there they are!!!

I've seen wild horses before in WY, but wild burros are a first for me.

I continue on stopping occasionally for the views.

I stop at a wash that I've been told is good for butterflies. But I'm not so sure I'm going to see any -- there hasn't been many flying. But I walk up the wash to the right for a bit.

Many lizards, good flowers,

good views and a couple of Variegated Frits and a Melissa Blue.

I head over to the left side of the wash and strike out there as well. I suspect it's just too early in the season or the wacky Spring weather we've been having. Onward I go getting closer to the rocks!! But I make a few stops.

I reach the rocks!

I am entering the tourist area after passing the Swinging Bridge - lots of campers, tourists, 4 wheelers. My nice quiet ride has gotten crowded. Some of the tourist stops (pictographs, dinosaur print, etc) are full of campers or 4 wheelers so I can't stop. A bit disappointing but I have seen them before when my nephew was out 4 years ago (hardly saw anyone that day). There is an "official" pictograph wall that is left to tourists so I stop to see the Fremont Indian drawings.

I continue on with the drive. I finish the northward part of the drive and start east. I have one last stop - the Wedge Overlook which is 6 miles south. I reach the turn and head to the Overlook. This is Utah's Grand Canyon.

Here I see lizards

A Variegated Frit

And awesome canyon views.

Well worth the stop!

Time to head home. Awesome day!

May 28 - Mormon Pioneer Trail

Last couple of times of been have to the Mormon Pioneer Trail snow melt flooded has kept  me from getting very far (not even a 1/2 mile).  It's 3 weeks to the day since I last tried. I'm positive the water levels will be down but I do anticipate a bit of gymnastics to get across the still many water obstacles.

This is also the time of year (late May/early June) when the Relict Frits start flying. I'll be looking for them today.

Bright sunny day and around 60 degrees when I start. The creek thru the woods is still very high but not flowing as fast. Once exiting the woods into the sagebrush flats, I can hear the creek but it's not roaring that it did previously. Good.

Still not too much blooming, dandelions and ragwort but I see a few blues -- Boisduvals' Blue.

And the bouncing tan for the Common Ringlet.

A little further a long (still in the sagebrush area), I see a White flying. He lands and I carefully but quickly head uphill hoping for a look. It's a Large Marble!! (A very beaten up one.)

When I enter the aspen forest, I start seeing both Western and 2 tailed Swallowtails. And they are even cooperating today (more interested in nectar than flying).

But it's definitely a day for the Blues -- Boisduvals, Western Tailed Blues and Silvery Blues.

I broke up many a Blue party today on the trail. Looked so pretty when they all flew at once.

The Rocky Mountains Duskywings were also plentiful. I was looking for the other Duskywings that fly here (Sleepy and Dreamy) but did not find any as of yet.

The trail is actually in pretty good shape. There are spots that are still a little stream or a little muddy and there are spots that are still flooded. But low enough to cross on rocks or logs -- or if you don't mind wet shoes, just plow across.

I'm not too far down the trail when I actually the orange of the butterfly I'm specifically looking for - the Relict Frit.

On time for the 5th Spring!!

Other sightings on the way to the meadow include Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Sara Orangetips (still only males)

Two-tailed Swallowtails

and a few Painted Ladies and Juba Skippers.

I arrive at the meadow and instantly find Spring Beautys.

Then I arrive at the pond.

A bit surprised that I don't find much flying around the pond or mud puddling. Maybe when I come back thru.

I continue on past the beaver dam.

I stop to check the mud behind the dam and find lots of Blues and Duskywing and one Northern Crescent.

Moving on I see a Hoary Comma

and Mourning Cloak.

After the dam, the trail now gets a bit wetter and more parts of the trail are streams but still passable.

But there still are lots of dry areas and in one of those areas I catch up with another Large Marble.

And a Satyr Comma.

After around 2.25 - 2.5 miles I meet a water obstacle that I can't go around or hop over on rock or logs. It's definitely a wade thru 4-6 inches of water. Not happening today. I knew that getting thru to the end would still not be possible (without getting wet) - happy to get as far as I did and see what I've seen (and keep  my dry feet).

Now to head back.

I do see new flyers on the return...including Mylitta Crescents (This one looks like a Pale Crescent.)

My first female Orangetip (with a yellowish color and a fainter orange)

And hummingbird moth

I reach the pond again

And go by north side. I see my first dragonfly of the year.

I also see many white flying around. They could be Marbles or other. I do catch up with one and it is just a Cabbage White.

When I'm on the other side, I hear a man's voice cry out "Is that the butterfly lady?". Yes, it's my Mormon Trail biker friend "Santa Claus". Nice to see and talk to an old trail friend. I'll see him many more times this summer.

I continue on around the pond eyeing all the yellow flowers. All the White butterflies just keep moving but I see a Sulpher nectaring. Just as I move to get closer, he flies. I stand there for several minutes watching him flying around and around the meadow and never stopping again. :(

Time to move on.

On the remaining part of the trail, I find more Northern Crescents.

Anther Mylitta Cresent and my Relict Frit.

Awesome day!