Bronze Copper

Bronze Copper

The bronze copper (Lycaena hyllus) is a small butterfly that is found in the eastern half of North America. It is found as far north as southern Canada and as far west as Montana and Colorado. It is usually found in wetland habitats, such as marshes and bogs, or open fields, like the ones in Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge where I took this pic. Although adults supposedly only visit flowers occasionally this butterfly is drinking nectar from butterfly weed. What butterfly can pass up blooming butterfly weed? Here in Minnesota, and other northern portions of their range, there is usually two broods per year, with a third brood in the southern parts of their range. Their larval host plant is herbs of the buckwheat family. 

A Return to River Bend

Last year I participated in a number of MOSP (Minnesota Odonata Survey Project) around the state. One was held at the River Bend Nature Center located in Faribault, MN about 25 miles south of the Twin Cities. The nature center had a good variety of habitats so I decided to return there last weekend.

Although I was primarily looking for dragonflies and damselflies, River Bend Nature Center is one of those places where you can see a great variety of nature. This is why I like spending time in nature centers because while looking for dragonflies you might get lucky and find a cooperative belted kingfisher.
The nature center has several wetland areas as well as some hardwood forests and open prairie. Wild flowers are in bloom forming a colorful carpet through out most of the grounds. Many insects, such as this bronze copper, were dining on nectar from the flowers and in turn helping to pollinate them.
The River Bend Nature Center began back in 1970s as the realization of a dream of the Faribault Naturalist Club. In 1975 they convinced the Faribault City Council to purchase 487 acres of land from the state for the purpose of building a, "Nature and Agricultural Interpretive Center." The land was acquired in 1978 and in 1979 it was named the River Bend Nature Center, after the Great Bend in the Straight River which runs through the grounds. More land was acquired over time, the park is currently 743 acres, and 1991 a new interpretive center was opened, replacing the Trail Side Center which had been built back in 1980.

Down by the river there were many dragonflies and damselflies. Most of the damselflies that I saw down by the river where broadwinged damselflies, such as ebony jewelwings or the American rubyspot pictured above.
For dragons I saw quite a few skimmers flying around, including common whitetail, twelve-spotted skimmers, and meadowhawks, but I was hoping to find some clubtails. I was finally rewarded when I found this riverine clubtail. I have only seen this type of clubtail once before, during the Minnesota Dragonfly Gathering of 2010 in Morris, MN. So I was pretty excited to get a chance to get some good pics. I was going to try and net it, I was not sure if one of this species had ever been recorded in the county, unfortunately it took off over the trees before I could switch over to my net.

Purgatory Creek Butterflies

It looks like this winter is going to be a lot more like the winters that I remember as a kid then the ones that we have had for the past 10 years or so. For most of this week the temps have been below zero here, and that does not include windchill factors in the minus 20 to minus 40 range. Some of birders in the area like to hibernate when the temps get that low but I get bored sitting around the house too much and so I have been out birding on the days that I got out of work early enough. It is just a matter of dressing properly for the weather. Unfortunately the birds have not been that cooperative, they are probably smart enough to get out of the cold, and so the photographic opportunities this week has been kind of skimpy.
So I thought that I would post some colorful butterflies to help cheer people up.
The first two shots are pictures of a bronze copper, the first with wings folded and the second with its wings spread.
All of these pics where taken at Purgatory Creek back in August. The last three pics are monarchs.
I heard on the weather report that this cold front has extended down as far as Florida and Texas. I do not think that it will affect the migrant monarch population, which spend the winter hibernating in southern California and Mexico.
I miss color. During the winter things are so white around here. With white snow on the ground, white salt on the cars, white ice on the lakes, and often times white clouds in the sky. I am already ready for spring. Maybe next year I will get Michelle plane tickets to a fun winter destination for Christmas.