Utah From Thursday

We left Zion Thursday morning and took the scenic route to Bryce. We stoped off at Kolob Canyons, the northern part of Zion and drove to the end of the scenic drive. We hiked the short trail there. Collared Lizard from Zion Kolob Canyons. After that it was highway for a while, then we turned and drove uphill to see Cedar Breaks. Which was slightly disappointing. There is still snow on the ground, so it isn't even really spring there yet. The views were okay, but Bryce is better. Cedar Breaks. We were going to visit Navajo Lake too, but got lazy and went straight to Bryce.

I Went to Magic Wings Again

I would label them but the id chart I found cleaning my bedroom last week has since disappeared again. (edit: found the chart) (Cairns Birdwing - ornithoptera priamus) I think this was a new one. (Gray Cracker - Hamadryas februa) So was this one. (Indian Leaf - Kallima paralekta) (no id) Some kind of swallowtail, also new. (Giant Swallowtail - Papilio thoas) The Blue Morpho that I hauled around on my pants for a while before I noticed it. (Blue Morpho - Morpho peleides) (Zebra Longwing - Heliconius charitonia) This guy was just getting mobbed by the common zebras. (no id) Glasswings, my personal favorite. (Glasswing - Greta oto) (Cairns Birdwing - ornithoptera priamus) (Heliconius sp.) My mother's favorite. (Cairns Birdwing - ornithoptera priamus)

Daily Photo - Glasswing

On some kind of cut fruit with fruit files for scale.

Magic Wings

Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides)

So after a 2 hour drive with an irritating detour (Google directions) I arrived at Magic Wings in South Deerfield MA. I've been to three other butterfly conservatories, and this one beats them all hands down. It's a huge set of greenhouses full of tropical plants and several thousand butterflies. It also had several intriguing signs, the most obvious of which was 'Don't chase the birds'. Other than butterflies there were several caged reptiles and lots of loose button quail. There were also some free flying Gouldian Finches.

Malachite (Siprotea stelenes)

Button Quail eating a Malachite. They seemed to enjoy ripping up any dead butterflies. They were also tiny, easily able to sit in a hand, though I didn't try that.

Gouldian Finch Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides), on my Mom's arm. Cairn's Birdwing (male) (Ornithoptera priamus) Brown Tip Page (Siproeta epaphus) Question Mark (Polygonia interragationis) These were everywhere but I don't see them on the guide. Not sure. Scarlet Swallowtail (male) (Papilio rumanzovia) hindwing Much too closeup, whatever it is. Overall I had a lot of fun, and it's a great winter activity since it is quite warm in there. After 2 hours though the heat kind of gets to you.

Sunday Adventure - Magic Wings

I'm even going to label a bit, I bought a butterfly guide because I was so impressed with the place.

Glasswing (Greta oto)

Pac-Man Frog

Doris (heliconius doris)

Ismenius (Heliconius ismenius)

These are just a taste. The rest with a description will go up tomorrow.

Daily Photo - Monarch Wing

Cloese-up of Monarch's Wing.

Moose Hill - Part 2

These are all from the Forest Trail, which I'd never walked before. Yes I've been going to Moose Hill for 3 years now and had never walked this trail. I found it quite nice. I also found plenty of things to add to my list of finally seeing them.

Two interesting mushrooms.

The ferns are giving up... I love the ferns when they start coming up in the Spring. they've been beat all year and now it's time for them to sleep. I still think hibernating for humans is a sound concept. Just hide inside until Winter ends. I got a pic of the tops, but it wasn't even half as interesting as the bottoms. To be added to my list of new things seen. I'm not quite sure what it is yet, but I'll find out. This is just one part. There was a stem crawling along the ground with a bunch of these all sticking up from it. My first surprise spider of the trip. I almost walked face first into this one, who is much smaller than it appears. At first I though it was a spider dragging a leaf or something, but that is all body. I looked it up and came up with this, a female Spined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilius). Also a first. An American Pelecinid Wasp (Pelecinus polyturator), also a female. Why in the bug world does it seem only the females are noticeable. Either a Comma or a Question Mark butterfly. I couldn't get good pics of this one, as by the time I saw it and focused it would move again. Playing with swirling the camera while focusing on leaves above. I liked the effect on this one, but the others didn't come out as well. This is probably Clavulinopsis fusiformis, or Spindle-Shaped Coral Fungus. I find it to be a little less common, or maybe it's just coming up where I don't see it. I love this type of fungus. It doesn't seem to matter how many pics I take of it, anytime I see a new color, or new growth I end up with a picture. It's some type of bracket fungi. Black Racer. At first I thought this was a Black Rat Snake. Thankfully I stayed fairly far away, as Black Racers can be very nasty if they feel threatened. The snake was huge, or at least I thought it was huge. It was around 4 feet long and rather thick which is why I first thought rat snake. It looked a lot like a fat black corn snake. Also a first sighting for me, as I normally only see garters or ribbon snakes. Another face dropper. This one dropped down as I stopped to look back at the pics I took of the snake. It was easily the size of my thumb. A marbled Orbweaver (Araneus marmoreus), also a female. I got lazy, okay I stayed up until midnight, and didn't go out this morning, even though the pouring rain might have stirred up some interesting stuff. Maybe I'll go to Broadmoor on the way home.