Happy New Year!!!

And 2014 is here already! Over this past month, I was very happy to take a few trips to the wetlands and spend some time away from the hectic daily pace.

As I walked along a section closed to vehicles, I came across this River Otter frolicking in the dirt. With a giant grin, I quickly sat down to watch one of my favorite, playful wetland dwellers in action.

Some dirt + some sun= one happy otter!!!

One day as I was pulling into the Click Ponds, I caught a glimpse of this beautiful Bald Eagle flying straight towards me! And then I realized that my camera was still zipped up securely in the camera bag....I did manage to get it out in time for one quick, somewhat blurry shot as the eagle passed.

 After a low pass of the ponds waters, sending the pond occupants scattering in mutliple directions, the eagle landed nearby on a utility pole. I soon thought to my self if the eagle is looking up, perhaps I should be too.

Sure enough, the eagle's mate was circling and soon the pair departed together.

And, yes it's that time of the year again...

While I do miss having different seasons in Florida, it is fun to still come across butterflies in December. Following this rapidly fluttering little blue, I assumed it was a Ceraunus Blue, as most little blues I come across are. I was excited to discover it was actually a similiar species, the Cassius Blue. Both species are teeny, tiny (wingspan 15-25 mm) with violet blue (inner) wing coloring.

I was able to capture a few photos (my first of this species) and the tiny butterrfly disappeared. As I was attempting to relocate it, I came across the more common Ceraunus Blue.

New Years is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the feeling of a new beginning, writing resolutions and goals for the new year...I wish you the very best in the 2014...

My your coming year

be filled with

magic and dreams

and good madness.

I hope you read some fine books

and kiss someone

who you think is wonderful

And don't forget to make some art

write or draw

or build or sing 

or live only as you can.

And I hope, somewhere in the next year,

you surprise yourself.

~Neil Gaiman

Recent Butterflies & Moths

This is a great time of the year to explore the many species of butterflies and moths that can be found in Central Florida. Here are a few of the butterflies and moths I've seen over the past month at my favorite wildlife locations. The Queen is a commonly found the Viera Wetlands. I never tire of seeing this boldly colored, large butterfly.

Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta

Last weekend, I saw quite a few Long-tailed Skipper feeding on the vegetation growing along the fence that borders the wetlands.

Long-tailed Skipper
Urbanus proteus

Long-tailed Skipper
Urbanus proteus

I encountered the next two species, the Eastern Pygmy-blue and the Ceraunus Blue, along Biolab Road on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.  

Eastern Pygmy-blue
Brephidium pseudofea

The Pygmy is the smallest butterfly in Florida and the Ceraunus is only slightly bigger. These two species are fairly similar, however, easy to distinguish by their hindspots.

Ceraunus Blue
Hemiargus ceraunus

Ceraunus Blue
Hemiargus ceraunus

Mangrove Buckeye
Junonia evarete

There were quite a few Mangrove Buckeyes along Biolab Rd as well as along Blackpoint Drive.

Perhaps my favorite find of the month was this Polka dot Wasp Moth. It is also referred to as an "Oleander Moth" because of its love of oleanders. This colorful little creature has white dotted wings and a stunning metallic blue, bright orange abdomen. This species resembles a wasp, however, it is just a harmless moth.

Polka dot Wasp Moth
Syntomeida epilais

Viera Wetlands 7/29/13

You guessed it, this cicada did not impale itself on the branch....

This Loggerhead Shrike looks a bit guilty.

Sure enough, it was the "butcher bird"!

 I was a bit annoyed with myself that I got busy following this Ceraunus Blue and missed the impaling event.

At least I got my first photo of this tiny, colorful butterfly with its wings open.

Ceraunus Blue

Another slow day for birds, but lots of butterflies still around.

Phaon Crescent

Southern Dogface

Dainty Sulphur

Wetland Butterflies

What makes for a great day of bug hunting...very few birds to see (it's just that time of the year), even fewer people in the area (not so many people looking at me like I'm crazy for laying/crawling in the dirt), and being sans toddler (3 year olds do not enjoy being still or quiet for long periods). So, my Saturday visit to the wetlands, which happened to be open to foot traffic only (which means significantly less people), while the toddler was spending the day with grandparents made for the perfect day to go exploring with my macro lens...

~Dainty Sulphur~ 

The Dainty Sulphur is a small butterfly that is found year round throughout Florida. I also saw several Cabbage White butterflies (also part of the sulphur family), which are pretty dull compared to the Dainty.

~Ceraunus Blue~

This was the first Ceraunus Blue that I've found. These butterflies are really small (3/4-1 inch) and easy to overlook. They are considered common and found year round in Florida. The species is very similar to the Cassius Blue. The Cassius, however, has 2 spots on the hindwing, where the Ceraunus only has one.

~Gray Hairstreak~

I think hairstreaks are some of the most interesting butterflies. Most (but not all) are identified by a small protruding "hair" at the bottom of its tail. This Gray Hairstreak was feeding on some Shepard's Needles, one of its favorite nectar sources.

~White Peacock~

White Peacocks are common throughout Florida and were the most abundant species I saw.

~Gulf Fritillary~

I observed both species of fritillaries laying eggs.

~Variegated Fritillary~

~Queen~

Queen butterflies are always delightful to see. Queens are cousins of a species they strongly resemble, the Monarchs. Both of these "milkweed butterflies" are part of the same subfamily and are known to lay their eggs on various types of milkweed. The ingestion of milkweed contributes to the defense of these species as it makes them toxic to predators.

~Fiery Skipper~

Most Skippers have large, moth-like bodies, small wings, and hooked antennae.

~Checkered Skipper~

The Common Checkered Skipper is found throughout Florida. These skippers like open areas with bare ground and low growing vegetation. Adults feed from a wide variety of flowers.

~Southern Skipperling~

The Southern Skipperling is the smallest skipper in North America. This little fellow sure was tiny!

Some of the other species that I saw but didn't get any presentable photos of were Zebra Long-wings, Spicebush Swallowtails, Sleepy Oranges, and Cabbage White butterflies. So long for now....  next up the damselflies and dragonflies of the wetlands:)