June 14 - Little Cottonwood Creek Trail

Decided on a quick after work hike up Little Cottonwood Creek again. Its such a nice day with a high of a mere 75 degrees - feels like heaven after 2wks in the 90s (hot and no rain).

I get to the trail at 3:30 hoping to catch some bflys since its an hour early than my walk last week. (And I did surprisedly well last week.)

The trail starts off great with a white bfly landing on a flower -- its a Large Marble. And then a beautiful black butterfly w/ white stripes on the outer wing (on top, its black with a white border) and brilliant orange eyes -- a Weidemeyer's Admiral (first time for the year).

See over 10 Admirals on my walk scattered over the entire length of the trail. Swallowtails are also flying in good number. Almost had a head-on collision with one on my way back but I ducked and he swerved just in time. (Actually, I kinda wish we would have collided and then I could finally determine whether this is a Western Swallowtail or a Two-tailed Swallowtail... but I'll continue to wonder.)

Still lots of allium (pink) blooming. I only find 2 lupine plants (saw more scraggly ones last week). They are still blooming but many seed pods on them.

The bushes filled with white flowers are still blooming (and smelling great); many different types for plants; one looks like a great nectar plant for butterflies but unfortunately nothing on it. Maybe earlier in the day when the sun is higher.

The Solomon's seal are also blooming now.

I see several duskywings --- one that must've got hit by a bike as it was struggling to stand up. Two orange flyers, probably coppers  but they didn't land.

The creek is still flowing pretty good but it is definitely dropping.

At the turnaround point, I stop for a break by the creek before continuing back down.

Not a lot of folks out today. Not sure if its because I'm an hour earlier (and people are just not off work yet) or just because its Friday and people are heading out of town. But I like it! (Its nice to not have to worry about speeding downhill bikers.)

I sped up the trail not really stopping for much (just trying to get a bit of real exercise), but on the way down, slowed it down a bit. I stopped in one area with quite a few dragonflies. Couple different types flying (and of course not stopping). One is either an 8 or 12 spotted skimmer -- couldn't since the wings tips to determine which. Also chased a Hoary comma here.

Back in the parking lot, a guy (getting ready to ride with either his girlfriend/wife) asked me if I had binoculars (he thought I'd might since I was hiking). Unfortunately, I've been using 2 different packs and they were naturally in my other pack. But he pointed out what looked like Mt goat on the cliffs above the parking lots. And sure enough they looked like they could be. I pulled out my super zoom; unfortunately they were just rocks :(

Nice ending to a good day!