It's been a good fall for Red-lined Scrub-Hairstreaks in the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas with half a dozen or more being reported at the National Butterfly Center. Somehow I've manged to miss them all but yesterdaay I learned one had been present for a couple of days in the blooming Coma by the Conservatory. So I spent quite a bit of time scrutinizing the tiny butterflies attracted to tiny but fragrant flowers. Eventually I managed to pull out this scruffy specimen. It might be the fourth I've ever seen.
Even scruffier was this poor Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak.
But this Dusky-blue Groundstreak was looking pretty sharp.
Mallow Scrub-Hairstreaks are everywhere.
Who doesn't like a Clytie Ministreak? There were several in the Comma.
A Red-bordered Pixie hid on a nearby hackberry.
Walking the Hackberry Trail I found the long staying Gray Cracker on the same tree at the same spot posing at the same anlgle as a few days ago.
Here's a sharp Zebra Heliconian.
Nothing exciting in the the sunken gardens. Best I could get was a Western Pygmy Blue.
The Discord "bonged". A Pale-spotted Leafwing was on a bait log. I hurried but just missed it by seconds. Luckily it didn't go far. What a striking specimen!
A cool front has dropped the temps into the sixties. Not too bad. Sometimes good stuff shows up after a front. I've got my Christmas wish list!
