Butterflies and Orchids at Ojibway Park - Late June

I had a chance to walk at Ojibway Park lately, and one of my target species was Eastern Fringed Prairie Orchid - of which I was happy to find three plants this year. Last year, I had only found one and it was victim to a cruel case of herbavory [link]. 

Some recent butterfly watching efforts resulted in finding my first of season Banded Hairstreaks, American Painted Lady, Long Dash Skipper, Silvery Checkerspot, and Monarchs. I had also seen some skipper butterflies that were difficult to ID (Little Glassywing or Northern Broken Dash?).  Some checks of my favorite butterfly watching spots has turned up low numbers and low diversity - which seems to be the theme this year. Perhaps things will warm up as the weather warms up. 

I noticed a small flowering plant (weed?) which I was not familiar with this week. I think it was a Carolina Horsenettle - at least that's what I-naturalist suggested based on a photo of its flower. This plant seems to be a little bit of a noxious weed. It is poisonous for any animals that eat it, and it makes a tomato-like fruit - earning it the nickname "the devils tomatoes". 

Good nature watching!

-Dwayne

Purple Milkweed with Monarch Caterpillar (can you find it?)

New Binoculars!

Guess which lenses are coated...

 

About two years ago, I purchased my first pair of binoculars, Bushnell Sportsman 10x42s! I've been really impressed with them, but my recent intrest in butterflies highlighted their main shortcoming, the close focus distance of over 7 meters! Amazingly, I only paid $30 for those binoculars! They were marketed at Nascar Fans that might pick up a pair of bright roof-prism binos at Wal-mart in the states. (My new binoculars are marketed towards hunters... I can't afford binoculars marketed to birders). The old pair of binos will be my spare binos that I leave in my trunk just in case!

This week, I picked up a pair of Bushnell XLT Trophy binoculars, which were only $150. They are a little brighter than my original pair, and colours seem a little brighter, but they are a little heavier. The close focus distance of these binoculars is only 2 meters, so they are much better for butterfly watching. I really think that if you take any pair of 10x42 roof-prism binoculars you have a great tool to go birding. Check out the optical specifications for $500, $150, $30 binoculars. The XLT wins on all measures except for weight!

ELITE

XLT Trophy

Sportsman

Magnification X Obj Lens

10 x 42

10 x 42

10 x 42

Close Focus (ft/m)

8.2 / 2.5

8 / 2.4

23 / 7

Lens Coating

Fully Multi

Fully Multi & XTR

Multi

Field of View ft@1000yds / m@1000m

325 / 108

314 / 104.7

305 /

RainGuard® HD

No

no

Eyecups

Twist-Up

Twist-up

Twist-up

Eye Relief

15.2

15.5

13.6

Adapt to Tripod

Yes

Yes

Yes

Focus System

Center

Center

Center

Exit Pupil (mm)

4.2

4.2

4

Prism Glass

BaK-4

BaK-4

BK-7

Water/Fog Proof

Yes

Yes

No

Prism System

Roof

Roof

Roof

Weight (oz/g)

25 / 765

26.1 / 740

22.2

Model

234210

620142ED

141042

Size Class

Standard

Standard

Standard

More Butterfly Watching... Mainly from the Spring garden area of Ojibway

Male and Female Fiery Skipper - Common at Spring garden

Long-dash Skipper

Tawny edged Skipper

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Male Sachem, Unmistakable with large stigma on the upper forwing.

Birding has been slow, although I did notice a (juv?) Humingbird perched in my backyard near my feeder, as well as my first southbound Warbler, which was associating with some Black Capped Chickadees today.

 

My first South-bound warbler for the season. Cool!

Good birding (& Butterfly Watching!)
Dwaynejava

Common Checkered Skipper ... is Common at Spring Garden!