Skippers of the Eastern Shore

I went on a birding trip this past weekend to Delaware beaches and brackish areas with the Potomac Valley Audubon to look for migrating shorebirds. Of course, I was also looking for butterflies along the way and came across four lifers. Many of the species we see here in the eastern panhandle are also common on the shore but there are habitat specialists that favor the coastal plain. Three out of the four species presented here (Broad-winged Skipper, Aaron’s Skipper and Salt Marsh Skipper) have an affinity towards salt or brackish marshes. The Swarthy Skipper does not and can be found in our local area.