More from Snipe Island WMA

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

As promised, here are more pictures from Mandalay Road.

Common Buckeyes weren't as common as black Eastern Tiger Swallowtails.




We were almost back to the highway when I spotted another favourite. This tiny Pearl Crescent was all about the Frog-fruit. I chased him for quite a while before he agreed to sit for a snap ot two.




The Whirlabout thought the crescent's game looked like fun, so he joined in, making sure I knew he well-deserved his name.



The Queens weren't quite as plentiful as last year, but they seem to be coming back nicely.


The Viceroys outnumbered the Queens this time.



This was the only Long-tailed Skipper we saw. Unfortunately, this skipper's larva, the Bean Leafroller, is an agricultural pest.



ID'ed:
Common Buckeye
Southern Dogface
Cloudless Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail
Palamedes Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Giant Swallowtail
Gulf Fritillary
Pearl Crescent
Zebra (Longwing)
Queen
Viceroy
'Sweadner's' Juniper Hairstreak
Silver-spotted Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper
Whirlabout
Clearwing Sphinx Moth
Katydid
Lubber

Snipe-hunting?

Yes, snipes really do exist. But this time it's Snipe Island WMA... specifically, Mandalay Road in Taylor County. Some of y'all will remember that this is my favourite butterfly haunt up thisaway. Last time, it was slim pickin's, but this time the place was alive!


The bull thistles are butterfly magnets. Three Palamedes Swallowatails jockey for position on this one.


This Tiger Swallowtail has one all to himself.. for the moment.

Gulf Fritillaries were everywhere!

The Zebra Longwing eluded me on the way in, but I finally managed to catch one on the return trek.

I've never seen so many Clearwing Sphinx Moths in my life! I've really missed those little guys since my Butterfly Bush croaked. (Hmmm... maybe I need to start planting ironweed.) They had obviously had too much coffee, but one eventually slowed down just enough for a quick snap or two.

The yellow ones weren't as plentiful, but there was a nice little variety, including this Cloudless Sulphur who seemed to prefer the ironweed, as well. A Southern Dogface proved too fast for me.

It was a really great butterflying day. I think the highlight was a Juniper Hairstreak. A first for me, but too quick for a pic. I only saw him long enough to realize he didn't look like any other hairstreak I'd seen.


So as not to completely bog down my fellow dial-uppers, I'll post the remaining pictures tomorrow. Nytol! Sleep sweet! 8-]