Tropical Leafwing on a Windy Day

Arroya Colorado Hugh Ramsey Park was hot and very windy in the afternoon of the 18th of March, very green compared to two years ago. Here is a Tropical Leafwing hanging on to dear life/twig.  When the Leafwing's wings are closed, it looks like a dried leaf, hence the name. When it opens out or it is backlit the bright interior shows. The female has the patterns but the male is plain orange. 

 HANGING ON!

 Flew and lit on a diagonal twig

A mighty gust was almost

too much for her.

She managed to hang on, looked  like a kid on the money bars.

Friday's Butterfly Walk at Estero

March 14th a good day for a walk so we went in the morning to preview butterflies and find birds. We were rewarded with great butterflies before and after the walk and during the walk. 

Pygmy Blue in the AM

Cassius Blue walking in on brick walk way

Black Swallowtail

 American Lady (not Painted Lady)

Pearl Crescent

 Phaon Crescent

Fawn-Spotted Skipper

 Fiery Skipper

Funereal Duskywings

 Red Admiral, Upper wings have 

R- stripe W- dash & dots, B outline 

Jim & Judy really into birds, butterflies, and photography

Reakirt Blues at Santa Ana

Finally a Wednesday without extreme wind or wet weather so I joined others on a Butterfly Walk at Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge. My highlight was to photograph the Reakirt Blue in many poses. 

Reakirt Blues are 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches 

This is a female because it has more spots on lower margin.

 Blue shows when open and a silver with spots when closed. 

Before and After the Butterfly Walk was the Best

It was a nice afternoon for a Butterfly Walk. Gunnar and I arrived at 10 AM for a preview and found the Cassius and the Pygmy Blue. We had a quick lunch at the Blue Onion and I returned in time to chat with Sue and Steve as they were preparing to leave in the morning. Arrangements were made for a final dinner, so I stayed after the Walk. The reward was seeing Ben Basham and a Question Mark, a first for both.

Cassius Blue is a tiny butterfly, 

less than a 1/2 inch.

Ceraunus Blue or

Reakirt's Blue 

not seen this year.

Western Pygmy-Blue in the Sedum, but where?

         Pygmy-Blue smallest Butterfly in North America.

 Question Marks after Hours

 First we thought these were Tropical Leafwings.

                         The identifying mark is the comma and dot, thus the question mark.

You see the white  ? when the wings are closed in the midle of the lower wings.

As we were admiring the Question Mark, Ben Basham drove slowly by birding 

from the van.  A legendary birder, more North America birds than anyone ever, 

now lives at Estero and loves to chat with interested birders and butterfliers. 

He lead us to  in his Fig Tree to see American Robins. Thank you, Ben.

We had a delightful encounter with a young family from Houston. Their second grade 
daughter is an avid butterflier so they were spending part of their Spring Break in parks 
of the RGV butterflying. She spotted a Mexican Bluewing that came to the bait for a brief time.                  Thanks to the dad for taking the photo. Wish I had a photo of them.

Mexican BlueWings, Tropical Leafwings and American Lady

The last Photo Safari at Estero was a bust with rain and wind but the week before it was very hot and sunny. So we walked to the Tropical Area and waited for the birds and butterflies. We were lucky to see the most Mexican Bluewings I had ever seen. Earlier we saw Tropical Leafwings and an American Lady. The Mexican Blue is always a favorite.

 American Lady

                                                          American Lady 1 3/4 to 2 3/4 in.      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                                    Great Purple Hairstreak

Tropical Leafwing

Leafwings and Admiral

Mexican Bluewings closed up.

Mexican Bluewings