Butterflies have been here in amazing numbers this summer/fall but variety has been on the low side. In a typical year I'll have 60-70 species in my yard but this year only 53. BTW, that Cloudless Sulphur is surrounded by Tailed Oranges and the Mournful could also be a Funereal Duskywing. They're hard to tell apart unless you can see the underside of the hindwings.
Thanks Arlene! I knew you'd help me with those IDs! (I use Brock's Butterflies of the Southwest but I'm never too sure...) I'll add Tailed Oranges to the description. And I went back on forth on the Duskywing, only having the photo--couldn't make out a pale brown patch at the end of the forewing so I went with Mournful--such awesome names! Thanks for the help with the ID of the Dull Firetip!!!
Could very well be a Mournful, especially at your location. There is a lot of variation in some of the skippers, especially those spread-wings. For the first time I had one here on 9/12.
You're getting me started chasing butterflies...today, I was out with the camera hunting them among the Mexican sage. I may have gotten a photo of a Funereal Dustywing...
Mmmmm, that pie looks good! Glad the birds saved you some berries…
Thanks Wendy--always a challenge with wildlife...
So awesome! I was delighting in the idea of it raining butterflies right up until you described the other bugs that come with it! lol.
Yeah, in nature you have to take the beautiful with the uncomfortable...
Butterflies have been here in amazing numbers this summer/fall but variety has been on the low side. In a typical year I'll have 60-70 species in my yard but this year only 53. BTW, that Cloudless Sulphur is surrounded by Tailed Oranges and the Mournful could also be a Funereal Duskywing. They're hard to tell apart unless you can see the underside of the hindwings.
Thanks Arlene! I knew you'd help me with those IDs! (I use Brock's Butterflies of the Southwest but I'm never too sure...) I'll add Tailed Oranges to the description. And I went back on forth on the Duskywing, only having the photo--couldn't make out a pale brown patch at the end of the forewing so I went with Mournful--such awesome names! Thanks for the help with the ID of the Dull Firetip!!!
Could very well be a Mournful, especially at your location. There is a lot of variation in some of the skippers, especially those spread-wings. For the first time I had one here on 9/12.
You're getting me started chasing butterflies...today, I was out with the camera hunting them among the Mexican sage. I may have gotten a photo of a Funereal Dustywing...
They can fly year-round with the right weather. Very common. I'm sure you get some really good butterflies in that oak woodland. Many more than I get.