Hike to Hickman Natural Bridge

Capital Dome

Hickman Natural Bridge

Under the Bridge

Backside of Hickman Natural Bridge

Today's activity was hike to Hickman Natural Bridge. Yet another one we didn't do on our last visit. I'm starting to wonder what did we do on that trip? The hike was a pretty darn easy loop out to a natural arch & return to the parking lot. Usually super busy since it is rated as 'easy'. The lot was full and the road was packed with parked cards when we returned from the hike. 

Kingcup cactus

 

We found a few smaller kid sized arches along the trail along with wildflowers & cactus blooming. 

At the natural bridge we were approached by a ‘friendly’ Unita Chipmunk. It obviously had been fed by others. Too bad for him that we’re not that easily manipulated by his begging. Cute, but no food for you!

Unita chipmunk

Hiking back down

After the hike we drove back down the road to Pleasant Creek for our lunch sitting on the tailgate. A couple of local families were playing in the creek & also having lunch before taking off on a hike. Their chatter & screaming wasn’t what we wanted for our hike so once they chose their direction we headed off in the opposite direction. We found another trail along the creek with only the flow of water & birds singing.

Stansbury cliffrose

Scarlet gilia

Plains prickly pear cactus

Bill rearranging rocks

Bill spent some time trying to rearrange the flow of the creek by tossing in rocks. I spent my time chasing birds. My Merlin bird app is pretty cool...record a bird song and the possible birds pop up. Then all I need to do is spot the bird for a positive id...easy right? Actually it is not so easy. 

The Yellow Warbler wasn’t playing fair...for a bright yellow bird they sure can hide in the cottonwoods. After chasing the sound for quite some time I found the darn thing. Too bad I had the short lens camera. It is a pretty bird with a lovely song.

 

Yellow warbler

The other birds were a bit easier to see...I found a western tanager, spotted tohee, black capped grosbeak & northern flicker. The flicker was sticking its head out a tree hole nest. That was pretty cool to spot. The Stellar Jays must hate having their picture taken since every single one took off as I lifted the camera.

Northern Flicker in nest cavity

Female Western Tanager

*click to enlarge photos