Falcate Orangetip

Hi on this rainy Saturday that is too cold for even Cabbage Whites to be flying in between showers. Today is only forecasted to hit fifty under misting and drizzly conditions with below freezing temps this morning. No butterflies were seen today so I elected to put up a Picture of a Falcate Orangetip instead. The Falcate is a gorgeous butterfly with its' wings up showing the ornate detail in gold. Simply stunning to see! Most folks only see a flashing of white going by and most assume it to be a Cabbage White I am sure. Always look a second time as you just might be surprised. Best to you, Denis
Below is a male Falcate Orangetip butterfly

Rainy Day equals more flowers

Hi, On this rainy day and welcome the moisture. We have not had a substantial rain in about three weeks now. A couple of days ago we did have a little rain amounting to only a quarter inch . So today I elected to put up a more mundane shot of a Spring Azure nectoring on a Garlic Mustard flower. We seem to be inundated with Garlic Mustard more each year. Their dry rattly stems in late summer seem to stand quite erect and poke your legs as you walk. Have a great day, Denis

Red-spotted Purple seen.

Hi, It seems quite early for this species to show up here but I was no further than ten feet away and well above on my tractor harrowing the field and saw this individual. It was disturbed by me and landed under me ten feet away with a good look, no optics. With freshly turned soil and a recent light rain the bottom of the field was damp. Here is an old photo of a Red-spotted Purple . Enjoy, Denis

Red Admiral being seen now.

Hello, On the 16th of April I saw my first Red Admiral that I could identify. I had seen some at great distances that I felt were a correct ID, but way to far for me to be sure. We seem to get a lot of migrant Red Admirals on southwesterly winds. Some years we have days where they move across open, not planted, fields in great numbers never stopping. Here are two pics, one from this year and an older one too. Have a great day, Denis

Juvenal's Duskywing out in numbers today !

Hi again, Today it is much warmer, up to 81° under clear skies and a moderate 
Southwesterly flow of air.This wind direction is where we get our warmth in springtime and much anticipated. Today, in our County 

Park,across the road from where I live, there were a half dozen Juvenal's Duskywings to be seen and some 

at home as well. The park is a Serpentine Barrens type of geology, whereas home is more agricultural 

farmland with a good topsoil. Here is picture of a Juvenal's Duskywing, nectoring on Garlic Mustard. 

                                                                                                                 Best to you, Denis 

Pearl Crescent has arrived a little early this year/season.

Hi All, On the 13th of April I had my first Pearl Crescent, nice and freshly hatched. It is still only in the low sixties, actually 61° was a high today, but sunny. I saw 4 of them, two while mowing a strip of grass along my roadfront and the other two in the pasture. Not just a single but a more general hatching it seems. It is to get warmer tomorrow and even warmer the next day, so more are expected to be seen. Here is a shot of the Pearl crescent in the grass. Until next sighting have a great spring day! Denis

Zebra Swallowtail finally arrives!

Hi and Happy Easter. Today, while at my son's house in Bel Air, MD, I had a Zebra Swallowtail fly by and land on their, in bloom, Lilac Bush. Bel Air is situated some fifteen miles SW of my home and across the Susquehanna River. Their location is 350 feet and I am 500 feet above sea level thus making them lower and warmer as a rule. While there I noticed that Milkweed plants were three inches high, whereas I have none emerged at this time. In another couple of weeks we will be loaded with new butterflies. Best to You, Denis

Here is a picture of a Zebra Swallowtail from five years ago taken in late summer nectoring on Beefsteak Weed