female Sonoran blue on birch-leaf mountain mahogany
female Philotes sonorensis on Cercocarpus betuloides
female Philotes sonorensis on Cercocarpus betuloides
Rosaceae
Yay! This is my second visit to Pinnacles in a dozen days to capture a photo of the Sonoran blue. I actually spotted a couple back on February 25, 2014, but they were too elusive for the camera on the stonecrop rocks. That sighting is now the first Sonorans for the 2014 Pinnacles butterfly report that Paul Johnson keeps. I thought this would be another new record of nectaring use for Jeffrey Caldwell and the book he's writing; however, upon closer inspection its proboscis is not sipping. He's been looking for first-hand accounts, and here I already have a * nectaring label on Nature ID, ready made for him. I think for him, he especially likes that I have taken the time to ID both the butterfly and the local nectar source. I'm proud my blog can be useful to someone other than myself.
OK. Am I nuts to be driving all over the place just to find a tiny animal? Hey, I have a gas efficient car and the time, so why not? I'm now officially part of the unemployment statistics. Ugh... I've also been painfully feeling the passage of time, and I'm afraid I'll look back and regret not having done more with my life. I guess I'm in the midst of the classic midlife crisis.
I have Ken @ Nature of a Man to thank for getting a possible solution started when he sent me a query about a Sonoran blue he found near Mariposa 2 weeks back. I didn't even have to look this one up, because I already knew about the Sonoran blue even though I have never knowingly seen it in person. It's a sweet sighting and a unique butterfly. Then, Ken had the audacity to call me "Butterfly gal" and a "Lepidopterist" with a capital 'L'. I denied it and said that was from another life in another state. But, is it, really? I think I underplay what I have accomplished and what lies in my heart. To avoid too much public navel-gazing, I'll leave it at that. Thanks, Ken.
8 comments:
Judging by your latest posts, I'd say that, more than any other form of wildlife, butterflies and moths float your boat. Whether you chose them or they chose you, who cares? You derive pleasure and knowledge from their presence. And through your blog, so do your followers. Many thanks.
Thank you, Graeme, for your support. It's been that light-bulb moment for me.
Sorry about the loss of work! Ugh! We too are feeling the passage of time and are evaluating what we really want to be doing with ourselves! Life is short. Have a great weekend, Katie. :)
You two are awesome, J&S! Thanks.
Butterfly gal, won't you come out tonight?
Come out tonight, Come out tonight?
Butterfly gal, won't you come out tonight,
And dance by the light of the moon.
:)
It's a Wonderful Life?
Why yes it is, isn't it?
That one is a real beauty!
Butterfly gal…..I love it
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