Northwest Butterflies: August 2017

Skamania County has become of particular interest to me in recent years. It seems to be relatively unexplored by Lepidopterists (except for the area close to the Columbia River), so offers the opportunity for new discoveries, and it is an easy day trip for me. In 2015, I found an Acmon Blue (Icaricia acmon), which turned out to be a new Skamania County record. Since then, I have found several more Acmon Blues in at least two locations. This summer I found another new county record, a Northern Checkerspot (Chlosyne palla). Here are a few photos from my drive on the 4th of July.

Lorquin's Admirals (Limenitis lorquini) on dogbane along Forest Road 68.
There were at least a dozen here but all moving too quick for me to get any sharp images.

Barred or Spotted owl, one of five I saw at different spots along Forest Road 68 on my way to the Grassy Knoll trail head.

Snowberry Checkerspot (Euphydryas colon) female on Globe Gilia.

Snowberry Checkerspot (Euphydryas colon) male (right) harassing a female (left) on Globe Gilia.

Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) on Globe Gilia along Forest Road 68.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) on northern or arrowleaf buckwheat (Eriogonum compositum) at the Grassy Knoll trail head.

Mount Adams, view from the east side of the Indian Heaven Wilderness, southwest of Mount Adams.

Newly-emerged Anna's Blue (Plebejus anna) at Peterson Prairie.

The deserts of southeastern Oregon inspire a sense of awe and wonder in their remoteness and rugged beauty. I spent several days at the foothills of Steens Mountain over Memorial Day weekend earlier this year. Due to the heavy snowfall this winter, the Steens Mountain Loop Road was still partly closed, but my parents and I explored the southern segment and saw many butterflies, wild horses, birds and a few pronghorn antelope. The majority of butterflies we saw were Boisduval's Blues (Icaricia icarioides), Queen Alexandra's Sulphurs (Colias alexandra) and Juniper Hairstreaks (Callophrys gryneus). Because this was a new area for me, I concentrated more on collecting butterflies rather than photography (nearly everything were new subspecies to me and one new species, the Bauer's Blue!) so most of these photos are iPhone pics I managed to snap between running around with a net.

Boisduval's Blues (Icaricia icarioides) puddling on mud around a seasonal pool southwest of Steens Mountain.

Seasonal pool southwest of Steens Mountain; a herd of wild horses came through here earlier in the morning.

Boisduval's Blues (Icaricia icarioides) puddling on mud around a seasonal pool southwest of Steens Mountain.

Phlox and other wildflowers southwest of Steens Mountain, looking east.

Phlox and other wildflowers southwest of Steens Mountain, looking west towards Catlow Valley.

Two wild horses near a large pond south of Steens Mountain.

Bull snake on the Steens Mountain Loop Road.

South end of Steens Mountain, looking east.

Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba) on phlox at Steens Mountain.

Steens Mountain, looking northeast.

Large valley southwest of Steens Mountain, looking north/northwest.

Steens Mountain (left) and landscape to the southeast.

Another day we explored the Catlow Valley, a large basin west of Steens Mountain and east of Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge. The majority of butterflies in this area were Desert Marbles (Euchloe lotta), Queen Alexandra's Sulphurs (Colias alexandra), Bauer's Blues (Euphilotes baueri) and Common Checkered Skippers (Pyrgus communis).