As much as I like watching the critters, I often find the critters checking me out, too.

I spent a couple of days at the Bombay Hook NWR last week. I was hoping to see a Ref Knot on the mud flats. But that didn’t happen. It was already a bit late in the season. There was still some evidence of Horse Shoe crab mating and egg laying, though. Along with plenty of other bird sightings, I was lucky enough to spot three fox kits on a small island – I believe it is only an island at high tide. Several hours were enjoyed watching the kits play and explore. The one in this picture took a quick nap after all the activity.

After disposing of the dead Tree Swallow in the Blue Bird bucket – I found a dead bird in one of the BB houses I monitor two weeks ago and forgot about it – I went in search of wildflowers. I found a patch of Jack in the Pulpits along a stream. After an hour or so the dogwoods were calling. That’s when I spotted the butterfly. It was nectoring on the Dogwood tree. Unfortunately, it was too far away even for the 100 – 400mm lens. I hung around for a while watching the butterfly go from blossom to blossom. Then it was gone. But not for long. It came right to the path where I was standing. For about two minutes the butterfly flitted around hardly staying still for a few seconds at a time. I blasted off dozens of shots but only two or three are usable. I didn’t know what I had until I returned home and looked him up in my book Butterflies of North America by Jeffrey Glassberg. The only east coast butterfly resembling this one is the Hessel’s Hairstreak. I’ve been wrong before and could be this time, too. But I think I got it right. It’s a pretty cool find for me because these aren’t common in this area. You never know what wonders are there until you get out and look.