Rio Grande Valley Butterflies: Santa Ana, 7/3/16

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Santa Ana, 7/3/16

The temperature was forecast to hit 100 today and all of next week so I figured I had better visit Santa Ana NWR before it fries. Despite the heat of the past week it still looks good but some things like frog fruit are starting to wither. Best butterflies once again goes to Blue-eyed Sailor. This one was hanging around a blooming coma (photographed on an elm) and a half hour later and fifty yards away I found the same one again or maybe another.

Saw my first Silver Emperors for this year. 1 and 3/4 of them.

Benton Basham found the nation's first East-Mexican White Skipper at Santa Ana back in 2004. Lately it's not such a big deal. Saw two today.

Four Banded Peacocks were nice. First photo is on P mode at about f 8 while the second is on A mode at f 20. The depth of field difference is noticeable but I really need a tripod when it's closed down. I don't know why the colors came out so different. The first is more accurate.