Despite a cool breeze and temps not getting above 60 it was sunny enough to get things moving as Barry Marts and I started around 12:30 pm. It didn’t take long before the first Sleepy Duskywing (2) of the season took off out of the grass. After only 20 minutes or so of searching we found a very fresh female Falcate Orangetip with its diagnostic pointed forewing trying to warm up. About three minutes later a male Olympia Marble went flying by but soon landed to nector. It was a yea! moment as this is a species I’ve been wanting to see ever since I got into butterflies a few years ago. It’s one of those species you see when leafing through the field guides and say “I really would like to see one someday” much like I said about the Bluethroat of the birding world. Since we are still in the early stages of things that actually worked to our advantage and gave us less options to sort through (as oppossed to a jillion Orangetips with a hand full of Marbles a week from now). The counts were very even today, 7-6 in favor of the Orangetips. The cooler weather helped out too as the butterflies were actually sitting down to warm up or nector. After an hour or so of watching them fly back and forth we got it right most of the time when calling out a Marble on the wing. The upperside of the forewing towards the apex has additional dark markings when compared to the Orangetips and this gives the Marbles a little duskier look. In addition, we saw many FOY Spring Azures (C. ladon)(20+) of several of which were of the “margined” form, not to be confused with the “marginated” form of C. lucia. These terms sometimes get applied to the wrong species. Rounding out the cast were Mourning Cloaks (4) and (5 ) anglewing sp. Flowers were everywhere ranging from tiny mustards to Coltsfoot, Bloodroot, Spring Beauty, Dutchman’s Breeches, Cutleaf Toothwort and Beaked Trout Lilly. A great three hours in the field.
Click on any image below to enlarge
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