Butterflying with Barbara Spencer

[fsm...@aol.com]

Hi Everyone,

Great to see so many of you at the Fall Meeting. I'm back in California but leaving tomorrow for the NABA meeting in Texas.

As I indicated at the meeting, here are some pictures I intended to show but couldn't because of technical difficulties. There will be more later today if I find the time.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fsmodel/albums/72157674278839402

This set is called "Butterflying with Barbara Spencer". The first is her photo of a Bog Elfin taken at Tom's Swamp. Great shot, I think. Note that the outermost dark band on the hind wing is rather smooth, which is the "classic" diagnostic field mark. Unfortunately, this characteristic is hard to see on many Bog Elfins [including the one whose photo was shown by Bruce deGraaf], which is why I was skeptical initially.

Other comments: [1] The Hessel's Hairstreak landed so close to us that Barbara had trouble shooting it with her long macro lens. [2] I shot the Jutta Arctic photo while inadvertently getting in front of Barbara. [Many of you know how I can get when we're in the field. It is not deliberate. Consdider this a collective apology.] [3] The Hackberry Emperor is perched on the back of Barbara's jacket. Talk about frustration.

Cheers,

Frank