First Skipper and Gumweed!

This afternoon Phil and I went for a walk after lunch at Post Point Dog Park in Fairhaven, adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant. We used to go there often when we had dogs, but haven't been there for quite a while. There is no longer access to the water for dogs or people, and there are more fences, intended to protect the Great Blue Herons that nest there in considerable numbers.

Our unusually dry and warm summer has had a visible effect on the greenery in the park, much of which isn't green. The bright yellow wildflowers in today's blip stood out, and as luck would have it, I managed to "capture" a tiny brown butterfly as well. 

Once home again, the challenge of identifying these entities began. I love doing research, so this was as much fun as seeing my subjects in the first place! Thanks to the Pacific Northwest flowers website, I figured out that the sunny blooms were Willamette Valley Gumweed blossoms, with the delightful scientific name of Grindelia integrifolia. (See extra photo for a fuller view.)

The tiny butterfly was more of a challenge, but I eventually identified it as a Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides). In case you don't have time to click on links, here are a few interesting facts from my source, Bugs of the Month: "...skippers are interesting in that they exhibit some moth-like traits and some butterfly-like traits. Like moths, they have stocky, hairy bodies. Like butterflies, they have 'knobs' at the ends of their antennae... (a)nd they hold their wings simultaneously flat as do moths (the hind wings) and folded up over the body as do butterflies (the fore-wings)." 

We're hoping for rain showers on Friday -- so needed by all kinds of living things!

Blip 1325