cloudless sulphur ~ 01/17/15 ~ Los Osos/Baywood Park

female cloudless sulphur (BAMONA)

Phoebis sennae marcellina (BOA)

(UC Irvine, SoCal Butterflies, BOA plates, Flickr)

If I didn't know I took this picture on Saturday in the middle of January, 105 miles down the coast as the crow flies in Los Osos/Baywood Park, I would have guessed this was taken sometime in late September or October, based on the yellow and green coloring of the sweetgum (in the garden behind the Back Bay Inn).  Up here in Monterey, November is usually when sweetgum leaves have already finished turning bright red, before dropping completely off the tree.  Apparent seasons on the coast continually surprise me, even after living here for 12 years.  I can't tell you much about the timing of the butterfly, either.  I don't think January is typical for cloudless sulphur sightings in CA considering there's only one report this year down in Orange Co. and only one other (ever!!!) single report way back in 1977 down in Riverside Co. (according to BAMONA and an additional quick internet search). Both Art and Chris make little mention of the cloudless sulphur, because it's a more southerly butterfly.  So, is this a migrant?  Did it recently emerge from its crysalis nearby?  Who knows?

habitat ~ 10/31/10 ~ Morro Bay

Morro Bay
October 31, 2010

This picture was actually taken from Los Osos looking back across Morro Bay and the State Park. I still haven't figured out if it's officially called Los Osos or Baywood Park. In any case, we were there for their annual Oktoberfest. This year they moved the bandstand and beer to the main street. It was a tad too loud and crowded for us, so we ventured through the neighborhood to walk off our full bellies of cheap (i.e., $3) and very yummy brats and tri-tip sandwiches.

Morro Bay feels more like a real bay to me with quiet waters compared to the much larger Monterey Bay at home. It's particularly nice this time of year with sun and very little wind. Around the corner in the second pic is the Elfin Forest. To the west is Montaña de Oro State Park, which Andy likes for the trail running.