2016 April 2

    REMINDER:  Butterfly Walk tomorrow!!!  For details see the March 30 posting – but, in brief:  Tomorrow, Sunday April 3, 1:00 p.m., at the top of Mount Tolmie.  All very welcome!

Devon Parker writes:  Hi Jeremy, I have a few butterfly sightings. First sighting (March 30) is two Sara Orangetips next to Highway 1 near the south corner of Skirt Mountain, chasing each other. There was also a Cabbage White next to the highway before Thetis Lake. The other sighting (April 1) is one Western Brown Elfin, one Sara Orangetip and one Cabbage White at a residence located on Flanagan Place in Colwood.

Gordon Hart writes:  Today, we saw a California Tortoiseshell in the yard landing on the Ceanothus (“California Lilac”) which is their larval food-plant. We had continuing Sara Orangetips, Moss’s Elfin, and two Western Spring Azures. There was also a fairly fresh Green Comma.

Green Comma  Polygonia faunus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Gordon Hart

Gordon Hart

    Jeff Gaskin writes: Yesterday afternoon, April 1, on Mount Tolmie just after 4:00 p.m.,  I saw a California Tortoiseshell and a Red Admiral on the reservoir. The tortoiseshell was in very good condition and the admiral still looked pretty good as well. [And Jeremy Tatum adds:  And today, April 2, I saw a California Tortoiseshell, a Red Admiral and a Mourning Cloak there.  One can’t complain about lack of variety!]

   Jeff continues:  Also, on that date, April 1, while I was waiting for the bus on Gorge Road at Wascana Street,  a Mourning Cloak flew by heading towards Harriet Street.