April 7 - Antelope Island (and Farmington Canyon)

Off to Antelope Island -- looks different everytime I come here especially the water levels in the lake; they keep dropping. More ducks today: scoots; and there are some flowers blooming. Haven't figured out what they are yet but still nice to see color.

Can't see any Burrowing Owls out but I'll keep looking.

I'm here to hike the White Rim trail (6+ m) but I couldn't find the trailhead; but I saw 2 pronghorn antelope instead (they were individuals). So I decided to drive up the east side of the island to the ranch where the Sentry Trail begins.

Well as luck would have it, I couldn't find that trail either but I found a ranger and he pointed me in the right direction. Which he would have said I needed a permit (as the trailhead said); I figured I'd hike it anyway (only 6.5 miles) but the "follow the rules" side of me won and I turned back.

OK, I'll try the Mt View trail; it follows the road but I'll get some hiking in. I'll go 1 hour out and 1 back (as I still wanted to stop in Farmington at a bfly spot).

Saw lots of Tiger beetles - Cow Path Tiger Beetles to be exact;

heard (and saw) quite a few Western Meadowlarks. Even saw the bird puff out its chest before singing. Beautiful bird!

But not even 1mi into the trail, there was a herd of bison in my way just 20yrds off the trail. Well not wanting to tempt fate (twice since I had to come back the same way), I turned around. So much for a good hiking day! :(

But off to hopefully find some butterflies in Farmington Canyon....

Got to the entrance and the gate was closed - no entry motorized vehicles; probably because there's snow in the higher elevations. So I parked at Farmington pond; figured I just have a look around...there was a nice creek. Then a saw a trail go uphill towards the road and I climbed up. And near there top there was this beautiful flowering plant that I thought was the host plant of the Sheridan's Green Hairstreak (early flier) and a butterfly (several) flying.

Boy was I excited and I went looking for them. But they weren't near the plant anymore (which is strange). Then finally, I saw the little flyer; just a moth. :(

But there were lots of them!!! Pretty much all I saw up there but then I really didn't stay long.

So much for my hiking/butterfly day....and when I got home I found out that the plant wasn't the host plant for the bfly. Humpf!