Wandering Home

I looked for but did not find Callophrys mcfarlandi (Sandia Hairstreak) in Cibola National Forest in north-central New Mexico. At the very least, I had wanted to find it before my friend and colleague Kent McFarland (no relation to the butterfly, as best I can tell) finds one of its congeners, Callophrys lanoraieensis (Bog Elfin), in Vermont. Bog Elfin has never been seen in Vermont. It’s my Quixotic lepidopteran lot in life. Kent’s looking for it this year. In any event, here’s a Brephidium exilis (Western Pygmy-Blue) from Patagonia, Arizona. Blog readers may recall that I discussed this butterfly, one of the smallest in the world, during my Grand Canyon trip. With a wingspan of no more than half an inch, it is barely visible in flight. And it’s even smaller with its wings folded like this when it lands.

And here’s me demonstrating what is arguably the greatest skill I’ve gained in 40 years of birdwatching. I was entertaining the troops (or at least trying) after not finding Swainson’s Warbler during the Vermont Bird Tours Texas birding trip. (We later got good looks at Swainson’s Warbler.) Yeah, that’s the legendary Jon Dunn smiling behind me (and using his hand to balance his scope). He was guiding a WINGS outing. (Damn, that guy is a good birder.) I’m now in the Texas Panhandle on my way home. First stop today: McClellan Creek National Grassland just north of Interstate 40 east of Amarillo.