Lately Mike Rickard has been telling me about the good crucita bloom over at Santa Ana NWR. So I finally made it over there and though I missed much of the bloom there was still a lot going on. They were loaded with butterflies but not a lot interesting. In fact the best one was not on crucita. I found another East-Mexican White-Skipper in the exact place where I had one six weeks ago. They're still loyal to the little patch of crotons along the tour road.
It was hard to walk on the trails without stepping on a Mimosa Skipper.
Is this the world's most colorful Pale-banded Crescent?
How about some long-tailed skippers? This is a Long-tailed Skipper (but the following aren't despite their long tails, which really aren't tails at all)
I can't resist White-striped Longtails.
And a colorful Dorantes Longtail.
This has been a great fall for Potrillo Skippers. This my first at Santa Ana.
The last few days I've seen more Soldiers than usual.
Upon arriving home I found my first yard Julia Skipper.
