Butterflying Before the Storm

The day started out stormy with a midday respite of sunshine. Did some weeding in our meadow restoration (photo below) while weather cooperated.

Home Meadow

Hurried doing a quick butterfly reconnaissance on a native patch of wildflower, grasses nearby before a thunderstorm rolled in:

Found two species of 'Blue' around flowering lupine (Wyeth's lupine):

Arrowhead Blue

Boisduval's Blue

Observing Small Birds...Related by Taxonomy

Western Montana is home for North America's smallest bird, the Calliope hummingbird (Stellula calliope). I have found it in forest openings dominated by shrubs. Hearing a "zing" (display vocalization) is a clue to its presence. Of course, having a feeder up is an easier way to view this animated puff of feathers. I captured video of an adult male coming to our feeder in Lolo, MT on a rainy day; call note and flight behavior are highlights:

Rainy weather is an important component to finding the Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) especially at the headquarters of Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. The first time I checked off this species was at Ouray, Colorado; saw a small black dot thousands of feet above my head. Not a quality view for sure. At Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, a better experience can be had IF the weather cooperates, i.e. light drizzle and cool. These conditions were in place yesterday:

Yes, the two other swift species (Vaux's and White-throated) can also be found at the same time and place if the inclement weather is in place. The hardest to find of the trio is White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis). A better and easier place to find this species and without a rain requirement is here, west side of Missoula, MT off of Mullan Road:

Park at "P", look south/southwest across the Clark Fork River at two rockfaces as shown in this video:

Simply scan the skies above and in front of rockfaces for flying swifts; this is a bit of a challenge as research has determined these birds fly in excess of 100 mph! It's a great challenge...go out find something good :-)

Scanning...the Skies and the Ground

The last half of May in western Montana is a time of cool/wet conditions. True to form, here's a video from our Lolo porch this morning:

So instead of going on a 'field trip', I've processed some photos and video from the past couple of days for your reading, viewing pleasure. Staying home sometimes has its advantages, found two first of year butterfly species from our yard: Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides) and Boisduval's Blue (Plebejus icarioides):

Purplish Copper

Boisduval's Blue

Looking at the ground yesterday, spied a Sticky Geranium (Geranium viscosissimum) in bloom in a small native plant patch along Marcure Road west of Missoula:

Sticky Geranium

Just east of Marcure Road is Loiselle Road, this gravel road was immediate to somewhat degraded native pasture...though sufficient for usage by a pair of Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni). Check out the following video of these birds in flight; compare with the excellent written description of flight found in the default reference material (Hawks in Flight [1988] by Dunne, Sibley and Sutton):

1st 2012 Odonate Field Trip

Visited Florence Bridge Fishing Access Site for first dedicated 2012 effort to find odonates here in western Montana. Wasn't disappointed as I observed a spreadwing, several American Emerald, several "Nobo" Bluets (abdomenal tip out of focus for identification purposes), two unidentified darners, and a couple of Pacific Forktail. Had great fun in searching and photographing. This fishing access site has an asphalt path for easy wetland access and is small in extant for thorough coverage. Good birding can be had here also. Here a couple of photos:


American Emerald (Cordulia shurtleffii)



Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)



Northern or Boreal Bluet (Enallagma sp.)

Morning Look at Elk

Happened upon a group of Elk (Cervus elaphus) using a cattle pasture west of Lolo, MT along Highway 12. It is always great seeing these large animals...powerful and mythic. Check out the video:

Birding at Lee Metcalf

A cool, wet morning can be the basis for success when on a birding field trip. Yup, those spring conditions typically concentrate birds in places where there is food...if you know where that may be. Since I was interested in finding newly arrived swallow species that are aerial insectivores, the wetland abundant, ergo midge laden, Lee Metcalf NWR near Stevensville became the destination yesterday. I wasn't disappointed. I observed Cliff (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), Barn (Hirundo rustica), Violet-green (Tachycineta thalassina) swallow mixed in with a large group of Tree (Tachycineta bicolor).  Found 39 species in little over an hour of effort...great fun and energizing. Here's a short video with some observed highlights:

Butterflies with Eyespots

A recent shot of common buckeye (Junonia coenia) from Florida really illustrated the stunning beauty of eyespots on these animals. The spots also remind me of planets rendered in 'old' illustrations of the solar system...somewhat ethereal. Below are three other species with eyespots both above and under the wing, what do you see? According to Wikipedia, eyespot function on butterflies is not thoroughly understood.

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)

Common Alpine (Erebia epipsodea)





Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)

Small Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis oetus)