{"id":9202,"date":"2022-06-21T10:32:09","date_gmt":"2022-06-21T14:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=9202"},"modified":"2022-06-20T20:35:36","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T00:35:36","slug":"butterflies-june","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/butterflies-june\/","title":{"rendered":"The Butterflies Are Back"},"content":{"rendered":"

The forecast was rain but I risked a walk through the nearby meadow this morning. The butterflies are back and it’s wonderful to see them.<\/p>\n

Satyr-ically Speaking<\/h2>\n

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There were about a dozen Little Wood Satyrs exploring along the lower branches of the line of Grey Dogwood bushes. I don’t know if their caterpillars feed on dogwood or not. I also don’t know if there is a Large<\/em> Wood Satyr somewhere: there isn’t here in southern Ontario.<\/p>\n

Pic of Peck<\/h2>\n

Well I haven’t had time to pick a peck of pickled peppers, but I did take a pic of a Peck’s.<\/p>\n

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In fact I took pictures of about six Peck’s skippers and watched several more. So maybe I got a six-Peck of skippers?<\/p>\n

Clouds But No Rain<\/h2>\n

I saw two Northern Cloudywings, both in new locations compared to previous years. The location that often has a “big flock” hasn’t had any yet this year, but I’ll keep looking.<\/p>\n

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The two today spent a lot of time sipping nectar from purple Vetch. It was easier to focus on this one when it landed on the trail though.<\/p>\n

Still No Sight of Cabbages<\/h2>\n

There are many domestic plants along the trail. Most of them were dumped illegally here from gardens; some seeded here. I’ve never seen a Cabbage here though, nor any other garden vegetables. (Well, aside from a wheelbarrow-load of huge, spoiled zucchini.) There always seems to be a few Cabbage White butterflies though.<\/p>\n

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Tawny-edged in the Tulgy<\/h2>\n

The first few Tawny-edged Skippers were asserting their territorial rights today. They will chase any other butterfly that comes into their airspace.<\/p>\n

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The Only European I Met Today<\/h2>\n

There are lots of Europeans in the Toronto area but the only one I met today along the trail was a European Skipper.<\/p>\n

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I have to look carefully at these simply coloured skippers as there are also a few Delaware Skippers along the trail later in the summer.<\/p>\n

Let’s Hear It for the Girls with Curls<\/h2>\n

This Common Ringlet doesn’t look particularly like curly hair to me. Some of the common names are a bit lacking in common sense.<\/p>\n

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Not a Moth-er Butterfly<\/h2>\n

A fair number of grass moths were flying today, too. And a Ctenucha. This Grass Veneer decided appropriately to land on a blade of grass.<\/p>\n

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Flowers For All<\/h2>\n

Many types of wildflowers are in bloom including some mini Morning Glories.<\/p>\n

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I keyed these ones out once but I’ve forgotten what they were. I like the ones with the bit of pink near the centre best.<\/p>\n

Birds on the Wire<\/h2>\n

Most of the birds were defending nests and delivering food. This Grey Catbird took time out to sing on behalf of everyone. (Catbirds mimic.)<\/p>\n

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I’m not quite sure what the fuzz was all about.<\/p>\n

Overall, it was a very pleasant walk and the rain stayed away till later in the day!<\/p>\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n