Hmmm, is it worth hiking countless miles and stumbling over the occasional hidden tree root to track down the more uncommon among Mother Nature’s winged wonders?
Gray Comma
I am particularly partial to the Comma group of butterflies – so named because they display a white comma-shaped mark on the dead leaf pattern of the outer wing. The Gray Comma hangs out in mixed or deciduous woodlands and is considered uncommon.
The Gray Comma pictured above, which for whimsical reasons of its own decided to perch upside down, was an exceptionally good sighting as – based on its colouration and flawless markings – it had clearly only recently emerged. It would reveal elegant inner wings coloured in a rich palette of brown, orange and yellow if it was inclined to spread its wings.
Acadian Hairstreak
Any outing that produces a Hairstreak butterfly is a red letter day – particularly when it is Acadian Hairstreak which once again falls into the uncommon category.
The Acadian Hairstreak in this post is another example of a newly emerged specimen. In this case, its pristine condition showcased its bright orange spot band against the gray, speckled wing. This Acadian actually came looking for me – fluttering into a bush six feet in front of me as I sat on a rock eating my lunch.
Delta-spotted Spiketail
My field guide says that Delta-spotted Spiketail dragonflies are rare. I find that a bit of a miscalculation. But they are certainly uncommon and always exciting to spot. The Delta-spotted shown above perched obligingly on a tree trunk to show off its bright yellow, twinned abdomen markings and translucent wings.
Black-tipped Darner
Darner dragonflies can be a challenge to identify because they fly far more often than they perch. But fortunately for me, the Black-tipped Darner you see above was catching some rest time while perched on a small branch in a shaded area of a woodland trail.
Black-tipped Darners, also considered uncommon, are part of the lookalike “Blue Darner” aka “Mosaic Darner” complex which must be identified primarily by the shape and colour of their two thorax stripes. I tripped over a tree root as I jockeyed myself into position to get this photo!
I regard each of these uncommon children of Mother Nature as living metaphors for the sometimes elusive joy she has to offer. It takes patience and persistence, and a bit of luck, to find them making the reward for the effort that much greater.
If you have not already figured it out, the answer to the question I posed at the top of this post is an emphatic Yes! Go ahead and call me a nature geek. I dare you. I consider it to be a compliment.
~ Michael Robert Dyet is the author of “Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel” – double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog.
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Tags: Acadian Hairstreak Butterfly · Black-tipped Darner Dragonfly · Delta-spotted Spiketail Dragonfly · Gray Comma Butterfly · metaphor · Michael Robert Dyet · Mother NatureNo Comments