2024 March 17

   These sunny days are bringing out lots of nymphalid butterflies.  On March 17, Aziza Cooper reported a Satyr Comma and two Mourning Cloaks at Swan Lake, and Kirsten Mills reported three Mourning Cloaks and three California Tortoiseshells at the Mount Tolmie reservoir, one of each also seen by Val George.   We also hear of a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell seen by Geoffrey Newell along the cliff at Clover Point on March 16.  Here’s a selection of photographs of some of these butterflies.

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Kirsten Mills

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Aziza Cooper

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Aziza Cooper

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Val George

Yesterday, March 16, Jochen Möhr photographed these two moths at his Metchosin house:

Probably Orthosia praeses  (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Eupithecia ravocostaliata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr