Monday, August 3, 2009

A skipper and a harvestman were walking over some leaves...

I was photographing this Silver-spotted Skipper when a Harvestman Daddy Longlegs decided he wanted in on the shot too. As I was focusing, he walked into the shot and right under the leaf. I'd hoped he would walk out on the other side, but he disappeared down into the leaves.

...makes me think of someone trying to get in 
on a weather shot while Jim Cantore reports live 
from the beach as a storm front approaches.



According to my Ohio butterfly guides, these little fellows 
are very, very common, being found in all 88 counties.
Every time I've gone out looking for butterflies I've spotted 
one. I found this guy on the Little Miami Bike Trial.


20 comments:

holdingmoments said...

Great capture in the last one Kelly of his underwing.

Jayne said...

You can really see that "silver spot" there!

Laure Ferlita said...

Love the way the light shows through the spots in his wing giving him such a glow. Great shots!

NCmountainwoman said...

Lucky you to capture the intruder. I also loved your wrens.

Tom Arbour said...

Nice Captures, Kelly. Yes, I see a silver spotted skipper almost every time i'm "afield" in Ohio.

Tom

Connie said...

I really like that last picture.

Roy said...

Skippers are cool! We have several different species in abundance here. These guys are the cute and fuzzy teddy bears of the Butterfly world.

Montanagirl said...

Nice shot of the underwing! He's rather striking.

Marvin said...

Silver-spotted Skippers are one of the few Skippers I can identify at a glance, even their jerky flight is distinctive. We have them in abundance right now. Nice shots, Kelly.

Anonymous said...

Very colourful for a Skipper species Kelly I particularly like the underwings.

E said...

Beautiful captures, Kelita, great learning here, when we visit your site. Congratulations. Many hugs.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Great photos...love the Jim Cantore reference. When he is at my beach, I know something big/bad is going to happen. :)

Elaine said...

Lovely photos! I do like the Daddy Longlegs creaping into the shot.

I posted some photos of a hummingbird moth that visited me in June. Let me know which one you think it is.

Shelley said...

Nice shot! He reminds me of a cute grasshopper! :-)

Susan Ellis said...

Great shots, and wonderful title..sort of owl and pussycat-ish...would make a good children's story too

Janice K said...

In that last picture, it looks like he has a beard.

Creative Cards said...

Nice capture Kelly....Under wing and all :)

Mary said...

I like the bonus spider :-) I see those Silver-spotted skippers more than any other, so I can agree with the "common" label1

Adrienne Zwart said...

Kelly, what field guide would you recommend for butterflies? I was so glad to see your ID of this one because I had one in the yard, and the book I have doesn't include skippers. I see them frequently but didn't know what they were called. Thanks!

The photos are wonderful!

Kelly said...

Keith...Jayne...Laure...and NC....thank you! ...intruder alert...it was fun to watch him go by.

Tom...I'm going to keep watching now and see how many times I don't see him!

Connie and Mona....thank you!

Roy...ahhh....teddy bears! I wish I had thought of that! :-)

Thanks Marvin...I'm learning to ID them at will also. I love this whole new world of butterflies, skippers, moths....

Roy....that orange is nice bright splash...thank you!

Enita....thank you....thank you! Hugs to you too...

Suz....that's the first thing I thought of when I saw him there. I was expecting him to raise a leg and give the peace sign...or mouth "Hi Mom!" I love Jim Cantore, but if he's on your beach....I'm sure you are a runnin'

Elaine.....popped over....looks like the Clearwing....I'll look in the guide for a double check.

Shelley....love you puppy photo!! He's so cute!

Susan....you're right!!! A great kid's book (and I just happen to write them.....for fun. One of these days, for real! :-)

Janice....haha! The Wise Skipper.....beard and all!

Krista...thank you!!

Mary...thank you!

Adrienne...I use several guides. I love "Butterflies of Ohio" by Jaret C. Daniels (it's nice because it lets you know what is common...and where they are located in the state). I also use "Common Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio" put out by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. I got it when I went to Shawnee State Forest two years ago...my third is the National Audubon Society, Field Guide to Butterflies...and finally...National Adubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders (use it for moths). I LOVE my two Ohio books and use them most of all...