2023 May 17 evening

 

Jeremy Tatum writes that he saw a Mourning Cloak fly outside his living room window on Poplar Avenue, Saanich, this afternoon.

   At 5:20 pm this evening, Jeremy Tatum and Jeff Gaskin met at the Mount Tolmie reservoir, and we were given an exciting display of five species of Nymphalidae (Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, Red Admiral, California Tortoiseshell, Mourning Cloak), plus a Pale Tiger Swallowtail, in a whirling cloud of butterflies chasing each other, and occasionally alighting on the surface of the reservoir.  It was difficult to count them; we know there were at least two Mourning Cloaks, and there were probably more than one of several of the other species.  Jeff also saw on Mount Tolmie a Cabbage White and a Western Spring Azure, which, however, were not taking part in the spectacular show on the reservoir.

   About an hour later, Kirsten Mills arrived armed with camera. She writes: I saw 2 Painted Ladies, 1 West Coast Lady, 1 Mourning Cloak, 1 Red Admiral, and 1 California Tortoiseshell.   Kirsten took photographs of all five nymphalids, which we shall try to post tomorrow morning.

  Aziza Cooper writes: Today, a Pale Tiger Swallowtail flew past me on Lochside Trail south of Lohbrunner Road. I also saw two Cabbage Whites and one Western Spring Azure there.  On the west slope of Mount Douglas, there was one Sara Orangetip, three Western Spring Azures, and one moth.   Aziza also took photographs of one of the butterflies and the geometrid moth, which we hope to post tomorrow, by which time we hope we shall have identified the moth.

 

  And there are some non-butterfly photographs also waiting in the queue, perhaps for posting tomorrow.  Quite an eventful day!