Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis)
There are still clearwing moths on the wing, and in the last couple of weeks I have actually seen a number of Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris diffinis) like this one. When there are so many individual flowers to feed on they are all the more difficult to photograph with fast movement back and forth…here, there and everywhere! I thought the reflection of the sun being visible here in those rapidly beating wings was especially cool. Sightings like this underline the importance of having pollinator plants that are blooming and full of nectar during all parts of the warm season. Spring,...
Read MoreButterfly Walk
Butterfly Walk at Stratford Point Saturday, September 10 at 10AM Stratford, Connecticut Leaders: Patrick Comins, Director of Bird Conservation, Audubon Connecticut Scott Kruitbosch, Conservation & Outreach Coordinator, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History Connecticut Butterfly Association Vice President Explore Stratford Point’s 28 upland acres filled with grasslands, pollinator meadows, feed plots, and a variety of shrubs and trees for common to rare species at this beautiful coastal site. This is one of the best places to find Monarchs in abundance in all of...
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Coneflower Seeds
Here is where I would be posting a photo of a gorgeous American Goldfinch feeding on the seed heads of mature Eastern Purple Coneflowers, but sadly whenever I am outdoors I either flush the birds unintentionally first, or I get to watch them without a camera in my hand. Fingers crossed for the future…but you should leave your coneflowers be and resist pruning them even when they are wilting and getting “ugly” so that the birds can enjoy a seed feast in the late summer and fall. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreMonarch on Coneflower
This Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) certainly chose the correct color of coneflower to nectar on as photographed yesterday. It is now egg and caterpillar season! Have you found any on your milkweed?
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