The Green-backed Ruby-eye was reported at sunset last night at the National Butterfly Center so I showed up early this morning to hopefully see this big crepuscular Mexican skipper. This one has been showing well the past several morning for but only for a few minutes. I'm usually eating breakfast when it's reported. So a few other butterfly watchers and myself waited at the blooming esperanza hoping for the magical apparition but it was not to be. I had to settle for a Curved-wing Metalmark.
Speaking of metalmarks, the Red-bordered Pixie explosion continues. I probably saw over 30 of them today.
Several Red-bordered Metalmarks were out as well. The metalark family Riodinidae has many spectacular butterflies in the tropics but only a few species occur north of the Mexican border.
Silver-banded Hairstreaks have been common lately.
I had turned off the sound on my Discord app butterfly alert as there were so many pointless coments being made and the app was sounding every few minutes. So I was surprised when someone casually asked me if I had seen the Isabella Heliconian. What the....? I jumped in the jeep and raced to the front garden and there was a small crowd gathered around something. It was a good something! It's been a few years since I've seen one of these tropical beauties.
Then the Isabella's congener shows up. After an absence of several months Zebra Heliconias are popping up across the Valley.
Many of the visiting butterfly watchers were missing as they had run off to Bentsen State park for a reported Banded Peacock. Now they were racing back for the Isabella. And guess what shows up. A second Banded Pecock! They were kicking themselves for the unneccessary trip. This is a super fresh one.
Clytie Ministreaks were all over the place.
I headed back to the south garden. It was a great morning but my two targets of Green-backed Ruby-eye and Hoary Skipper were no place to bee seen. Chris Balboni found me this neat little diurnal flower moth.
I really like these Green Jewell Flies.
One last check of the front gardens before I quit. I had turned my Discord app back on and it dinged reporting a Barred Yellow in front of the visitors center. But my tired brain somehow transposed it into Orange-barred Sulphur. So I raced over hoping for a good photo. I saw the Indiana Gang gathered around a bush looking down taking photos.
As I approached I yelled "Male or female?"
They responded " I don't know." How could they not know? And how come I cant see it?
"There it goes!" How come I don't see this large brightly colored butterfly!
Terry Mortier went running after it looking downward. How come I can't see it?
"Uhm... Because it's not a big Orange-barred Sulphur you dumbass. It's a tiny Barred Yellow." I chided myself. It's been over ten years since I've seen one and was lucky to get a photo.
The Barred Yellow got my juices flowing so I thought one last run of the Hackberry Trail bait logs would be in order. I finally got the Red Rim.
My first Malachite for the day.
And back in the south garden by the rest rooms another Red rim and a Band-celled Sister.
What a day! Usually two or three hours is enough for me. I spent over seven and no doubt walked a few miles.
