07.10
At least once or twice a year now I’m sure to make a trip to explore the Kern River and Sherman Pass in Tulare Co. CA. It’s easily one of my favorite places on earth to roam with my camera in hand. The one constant is change and each visit holds surprises, challenges and adventures.My first stop was Fairview Camp along the Kern River where I spotted this Hedgerow Hairstreak (Satyrium saepium) sitting on the asphalt.
This Gorgon Copper (Lycaena gorgon) is a common sight in the area. The male’s coloring blends well in it’s surroundings.
and here we can see the underside markings. Note the prismatic effect of the fine hairs on the wing margin: This is often seen in backlit shots but I don’t believe I’ve ever seen this many colors of the rainbow at once.
Above, this well worn Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta) is a first for me.
as is this California Hairstreak (Satyrium californica). Would I find any fresh specimens this day?
Further up Sherman Pass around 5680′ I stopped at one of several Alder Creek crossings…
and found this lofty Lorquin’s Admiral (Limenitis lorquini). They tend to perch well up in the trees but a 180mm lens helped me frame this impressive insect.
This wet meadow at about 8600′ is a favorite spot of mine but the season is a bit late getting started here.
Luckily I found this freshly emerged male Greenish Blue (Plebejus saepiolus) who was happy to pose for me. He was so relaxed I was able to pull a couple blades of grass out of the way, go back to the car and get a tripod, cable release and reflector which I placed below the dandelion for fill-light. He wouldn’t budge! I wouldn’t be surprised if he was preparing for his first flight. The meadow should be exploding with butterflies in a few days…
Next I went up to Bald Mtn. to see if the Indra Swallowtail (Papilio indra phylissae) were still flying. These elusive creatures are a thrilling find for any butterfly enthusiast and I expect them to be very difficult to approach. This male however was so relaxed I ended up sitting in the gravel and loose rocks about a foot away and shot dozens of frames. He seemed oblivious. There’s just no explanation.
His proboscis was on the rock…
probably gathering minerals. Butterflies can often be found at mud doing the same thing. They need minerals as well as glucose to survive.
Back down do the Kern River at Corral Creek I found my first Melissa Blue (Lycaeides melissa) on a piece of toilet paper of all things. It was right next to a Porta Potty in the campground parking lot.
I only had to wait a moment for it to choose a more natural perch and I ended up with that rainbow refraction in the wing margins again. Thats what portrait photographers call a “hair light”.
On the way home I stopped in the Piute Mountains and found Heliopetes ericetorum ovipositing on an unidentified mallow.
And while I was driving home there was something happening in my office…
This is Lumpy…
an Anise Swallowtail caterpillar we found on a Common Rue plant we got at the local nursery.
I made a time-lapse movie of him pupating.
He started to get crinkly looking.
Then a white stripe appeared down the length of his body…
and before I could speed up the camera interval he was done!
Nature is awesome!
So anyway as I said, while driving home he emerged in my office and Dierdre found him after stepping out for moment. Here he is on a hard drive I use to backup all my solardarkroom.com pictures. It’s warm so he probably liked that.
She was able to tempt him onto this plant.
I was somewhere in the desert driving just slightly above the speed limit.
When I got home a couple hours later I tried to take him out the front door on my hand but he saw the light in the bedroom and went straight for it. I let him catch his breath on the drapes for a moment.
Then one more try…
and he made it outdoors onto Dierdre’s flower arrangement on the porch.
Here he is as he should be.
We’d been referring to Lumpy as “he” so it was convenient he turned out to be a male butterfly. We’ve changed his name to Lucky and he’s flying somewhere in Santa Monica. Good luck buddy!