The Satyr Chase Concludes

My days of pursuing the Carolina Satyr have come to a close.  After chasing after several dozen small Satyrs, I have finally procured some decent shots of this elusive butterfly.

Each time I saw a small Satyr land, I would take a long distance shot and then zoom in on the display to see which Satyr I had found.  After a while I got pretty good at distinguishing between the three possible species just by their flight behavior.

Each stationary Carolina Satyr meant a stealthy approach to a good camera position.  This individual landed near a bushy Indian Hemp plant, so I used the plant to screen my approach.  By sticking the camera through the branches of the hemp, I was able to get close to the butterfly.  Each time the wind blew, I rocked the plant a little farther forward until my target was only a couple of feet away.  The down side to this plan was the fact that Allegheny Mound Ants had claimed that particular hemp plant and were doing their best to convince me to abandon my mission.  I persevered, but wrapped things up as quickly as possible.

Just a few feet away I stumbled into another opportunity to get shots of the Carolina Satyr.  I’m now satisfied that I have photos showing the distinguishing marks of this species.

Eighty percent of the small Satyrs I viewed were Gemmed Satyrs. I’ve never before seen this species in such large numbers.  Since I already had a few decent shots of this species, I didn’t pursue them any farther.

Apparently, this Gemmed Satyr didn’t like being left out.  While I was standing at the edge of a small clearing, the butterfly flew over and came to rest on the knee of my pant leg.

The butterfly was enjoying a little sweat treat.  The temperature was in the lower 90’s and I had been out for several hours.  Everything I was wearing was pretty much soaked in sweat.  I guess I’m lucky I wasn’t mobbed by butterflies and sweat bees.  While it was drinking, the butterfly opened its wings slightly to give a view of the upper surface of the hind wing.  A faint outline of the spot pattern can be seen.

I saw just one Little Wood Satyr.  Its wings were a bit battered and torn.  August first is about the end of the season for Little Wood Satyrs.  The flight period for the Gemmed and Carolina Satyrs runs on until around the first of September.  I’ll still be seeing them for a while, but my chasing days are over for now.

Searching for Carolina Satyr

There are three species of small Satyr butterflies that can be found at Blue Jay Barrens.  They all fly low to the ground and share the same brown background color, so it’s sometimes difficult to identify them in flight.  The most abundant of the three is the Little Wood Satyr.

Little Wood Satyrs fly during late spring and early summer.  They’re just now reaching the end of their run, so it’s not uncommon to find individuals with torn or ragged wings.

This species stays to the shade and seems to prefer open wooded situations that allow for a thick ground cover of forbs and grasses.  I find it from creek bottom to ridge top as long as the preferred shade conditions are present.

The second of the small Satyrs is the Gemmed Satyr.  This is an uncommon species whose northern range just makes it into southern Ohio.  If you can get close enough to see them, the four small eye spots tightly grouped at the back edge of the hind wing make identification easy.  I’ve found this species occasionally on ridge tops, but most often along the creek corridor.

All three small Satyrs spend the majority of their time in flight, so it’s hard to catch them at rest.  When they do set down on a plant, it’s usually just for a period of a few seconds.  If you can find one that has settled for a longer stay, it is easily spooked by any movement, so getting close can be difficult.  If you have the patience, you have better luck by staking out a likely area and waiting for a butterfly to come to you.

My goal for the day was to get a decent picture of the Carolina Satyr, the third of the small Satyrs.  This is also an uncommon species whose range just makes it into southern Ohio.  My first photographic attempt was less than satisfying, but at least I could tell I was after the correct species.

I usually got just one shot before the butterfly took off.  This is getting better, but I’ve still got a long way to go. 

I finally got a shot that did a pretty good job of showing the distinguishing marks. 

This Carolina Satyr flew over and lit right in front of me.  It’s my best shot of the day, but the upper wing surface is rather blah.  The surface of the wings looks worn and scratched, but that’s the way most published photos of this guy look.  The butterfly flew as soon as I began to crouch down for a side shot.  My search for Satyrs took place in the warm afternoon.  Maybe I’ll have better luck if I go out in the cool of the morning.  I’ll give that a try.

Butterfly Update

Butterfly numbers are still low, but I’m seeing several different species.  The Olive Hairstreak is trying to outdo its first brood success and is becoming more abundant every day.

Other Hairstreaks are quite noticeably absent.  Besides the Olives and two Edwards’, this Gray Hairstreak is the only other of that group that I’ve seen so far this summer.  Many Hairstreak species are normally common here.  It’s disturbing to have them so obviously absent.

Great Spangled Fritillaries are still around in very low numbers.  They’re appearing just one at a time instead of in their usual flocks.

Pipevine Swallowtails are still the most abundant of the Swallowtail group.

Tiger Swallowtails began showing up just a few days ago. 

Silvery Checkerspots seem more common this year.  That may be because the number of Pearl Crescents, which the Silvery Checkerspots resemble, is way down.  It’s hard to see the Silvery Checkerspots when Pearl Crescents are constantly flying by.

Little Wood Satyrs are becoming more abundant, but are still less common than normal.

I got this out of focus shot of a ragged Carolina Satyr after following the butterfly for several minutes.  First sight led me to believe it was another Little Wood Satyr, but it had a little different look that made me want to get a closer look.  It lit just long enough for me to get one quick shot from a position much too far away.  Then it took off over an embankment and easily evaded any further pursuit.  Carolina Satyrs are rather rare in this area, so I guess I’ll go back out and see if I can find a nicer looking individual and get a clear shot.

Skipper numbers seem to be about normal this year.  This Northern Broken Dash is one of many that appear to have emerged in unison. 

Almost as suddenly, every dark skipper is a Wild Indigo Duskywing.  They are gathering just about everywhere they can find a bit of mineral laden moisture.

The Southern Golden Skipper is one of many skippers that will hold fore and hind wings at different angles to expose all sides simultaneously.  This always fascinated me as a child and each time I saw one, I couldn’t keep from thinking about the inside of a cat’s eye marble.  Of course, back then I didn’t have any camera or binoculars, so I had to employ some pretty nifty stalking skills to get a close view. 

Lacking Butterflies

Blue Jay Barrens is still lacking butterflies.  A few species, like this Northern Metalmark, are present in expected numbers, but most species are either poorly represented or completely absent.

Northern Metalmarks typically sit with wings outspread, so the common view is of the mostly brown upper surface.  Occasionally one will give a glimpse of the bright orange under side.

Even though the metalmarks are occasionally found on flowers, their usual location is on a sunny leaf near the ground.  My first notice of them is most likely to be when they quickly shift plants at my approach.  I don’t know why this species would be so abundant this year when so many butterflies are absent.

This may look like a typical clump of Butterflyweed, but there is something missing.  There are no butterflies visiting here.  At this time of year there should be no Butterflyweed clumps without butterflies.  Most noticeable to me right now is the total absence of any hairstreak species.

Common Wood Nymphs are around in good numbers.  These are low fliers that thread their way through the vegetation.

Little Wood Satyrs are generally very common this time of year.  I’ve seen only two in the past week. 

This Little Wood Satyr looks like it’s been around for a while.  Hopefully the few individuals that managed to emerge have left plenty of eggs to rebuild the population for next year.

Most of my Great Spangled Fritillary encounters have been with lone individuals.  In some years there are so many of these butterflies that they knock each other off the flowers during the scramble for nectar.

Just a scattering of Pipevine Swallowtails around.  No other swallowtail species were seen last week.

This is one of the swallowtail species that keeps its wings moving while feeding.  I figure all of that movement makes it more difficult for predators to zero in on the butterfly.  It’s disturbing not to see the familiar masses of swallowtails working over the Butterflyweed.

A lone Pearl Crescent has the entire flower head to itself.  I hope the butterflies get themselves straightened out.  I can understand if it was the weather patterns responsible for the decline.  The winter was warmer and wetter than normal, spring brought record floods and high temperatures and summer is beginning with a severe drought already underway.  This may turn out to be the year without butterflies.