First Local Butterflies of 2009!

What fun. One of the butterflies I have wanted to find since seeing the images in my books is the Sonoran Blue (Philotes sonorensis). I was skeptical that I would see one in the Sierra foothills because the books suggest going to Anza-Borrego for an almost guaranteed sighting, but still, they are listed as showing up in a few spots this far north. These are early fliers and I held onto hope for a chance to find them.

Then I got a note that said many were flying near Auburn, specifically around where Hwy 49 crosses the North Fork of the American River. The note also said there were "a few" around Rock Creek Road on Hwy 193 near Chili Bar. I couldn't wait to go look. I drove out to the area, and while parking along the road for my first get-out-to-look stop, I saw a small blue bug flying by on the other side of the road. I grabbed my camera and walked over to wait for it to land, and when it did, I was staring at my first Sonoran Blue!

In fact I spend only half an hour walking around that same spot and saw many many of them. The air temp was probably around 65° and the day was perfect for flight. I was very pleased.

The only other species I saw yesterday were a few Propertius Duskywings (Erynnis propertius).

I had to go back today and look again. What a strange surprise! Today I saw only one Philotes but I saw many many of what I think were Lupine Blues (Plebejus lupini; they may have been Acmon...) and numerous Painted Ladies (Vanessa cardui). Heck, I even watched three Sara Orange-tips (Anthocharis sara sara) fly by, but none would park for a photo. Add one sighting of a bright yellow bug going by fast and I'll suppose it was an Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) since there isn't anything else that color (at least commonly seen) that I can think of.

That makes a pretty good start for my year.

Visit my butterfly page on Floralore.com.

Looking for Spring...

I'm sitting out the rain storms in NorCal and doing what I can to spruce up Floralore.com. With reports of several feet of snow higher up, and inches of rain here at 1700ft, I think it may bode well for a good start for seedlings and flowers. I drove down through Cameron Park today and noticed that the redbuds are starting to show faint signs of pink-tint buds. Another month or so and they will pop open.

I wonder if any butterflies will start to appear with the redbud? I don't expect anything around here for awhile, but I did get my first of the year while visiting Novato; a Mourning Cloak was visiting the pittesporum hedge in the backyard.

Rain predicted for the next solid week. I guess I'll catch up on some reading.

I'm Underwhelmed!

Months have passed and not a single remark from anyone. Are there no people in the Sacramento area who are even just a little enthusiastic about butterflies? I joined one group that is based out of the Pacific Northwest because they said they included northern California. After many months it seems to be only Washington and Oregon. One person mentioned a vacation to Napa Valley and listed some bugs found there. Then I joined a national group and so far it's all dragonflies from the East!

This is a little disappointing. 

Oh well, ... I'm having fun!

–Steve

A change in method...

First, the change in method: I started this blog section because I wanted to try generating some discussion of butterflies. After several weeks it finally occurred to me to simply make this space a place to allow feedback from any of the pages from the Floralore site.
. . .

What a surprise! Yesterday was cloudy and threatening, then last night a quick but intense storm moved over the foothills with strong wind and hard rain for 30 minutes or more. Then this morning, the sky was clear and blue, making for a promising day for a Sierra hike.
Just yesterday I spent some time with a friend to show her how to use a GPS. She and a friend of hers are going to try for Red Lake Peak today. This Carson Pass 10,000' summit is a great place for views that extend from Lake Tahoe to the north and Yosemite's Minarets to the south. Presuming that there may have been a little snow above 7000' from that storm, this should still be a great day to go look out over the landscape.
The GPS went on the trip because I know that the cross-country travel up the slope will make it hard to keep track of just where "up" is, so a waypoint will keep them aware of just where they should be heading!
[Read about GPS on Floralore.com]

--Steve

Strange Coincidence...

After a couple of Sierra trips that produced no new sightings, and only a few butterflies at all, I just finished telling somebody that I guess the season has wound down and that I'd have to start planning for a trip to the coast to see the monarchs.

This morning, as I sat here in my office talking on the phone, I saw an orange butterfly bouncing around over some flowers at the edge of the parking lot. I picked up my camera and, still talking on the phone, went out to see what I had? I could hardly believe my eyes: it was a monarch, come to see me!

Even as I continued answering questions on the phone, my autofocus Nikon did the job as I tried to get a shot with the wings open. I snapped a few before the bug went off for another nectar source, and I was pretty surprised by this event. I should have told the customer I'd call them back!

Can you identify this moth?

Photographed at about 7000' in the red-fir forest along Iron Mountain Road, this appears to be a Large Lace Border (Scopula limboundata), but it is confusingly similar to a Plain Wave (Idaea straminata). To see a larger image, click on the image.

To see other recent butterfly photos from El Dorado County, go to the Butterfly Gallery on Floralore.com.

Including Pictures

Talking about butterflies will be enhanced if you will include a photo of the subject. This is a Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides).