Hi all! Adrienne and I met up today to hike through the Brooker Creek Headwaters Preserve. It took a while, but we found many butterflies to observe. We didn't get pictures of all of the ones we saw, but I think we gost most of them. To start, here's a buckeye. I wasn't even sure at first because my camera screen is so little, but now that it's on the computer I can see the detail. Like most of the pictures I took today, there was a fence between me and the butterfly.
When we found a huge stand of lantana there were Zebra Longwings everywhere! I know they're our state butterfly, but I don't usually see them, and certainly not more than one at a time.
This message was edited Jun 3, 2007 2:43 PM
We weren't sure about this guy, but after consulting my book, I think it's a White M Hairstreak. He was sitting there rubbing his wings back and forth. It was very cool to watch, but hard to take a picture of.
The Zebra Longwings got really close to me!
You have to look through the fence for this Swallowtail. I think it's a Spicebush enjoying the lantana along with everyone else.
I stalked this yellow guy all over and the best I could get was this picture from far, far away. I think Adrienne got a good photo of him. I hope!
Brooker Creek is full of pawpaws, and so of course we expected to see Zebra Swallowtails. They sure are fast though!
Moving at a little slower pace was this guy - a gopher tortoise! We also saw one of the crescent butterflies and sulphurs but they were too fast for us slowpokes. Brooker Creek is full of larval host plants and it was fun seeing so many varieties of butterflies in one place. I'm sure Adrienne will be along soon to post all of the great photos she took.
