Most hairstreaks have thin hairlike tails projecting from the hind wings and delicate streaks below.
Each hind wing often bears a burst of bright red, orange or blue below.
Males are warm brownish-black while females are slate-coloured.
This common hairstreak clings to low leaves and shrubs bathed in sunbeams and engages all newcomers in territorial tussles.
Hairstreak information from National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Butterflies
Other flyers:
Thanks to Ken Sproule for assistance in insect identification.
The Seaton Trail section south of Whitevale is somewhat more rugged than I am used to. There are hills to climb and descend plus, on every opportunity, I climb down and explore the banks of the West Duffins Creek. Around the time when I thought I might be near the end of the middle section of the trail I saw two runners (hard-core runners love this trail). “Am I near the end” I asked. “Still 3 kilometres to go” they replied. I’ll do that on another day!
Some botany:
NATURE POETRY
The sun is an eagle old,
There in the windless west.
Atop of the spirit-cliffs
He builds him a crimson nest. – Vachel Lindsay (1879–1931)
Miles Hearn
Thanks Miles for this posting as for the others. Today I’m especially struck by your photo of the purple-flowering raspberry blooms, which look like two gorgeous silk dresses.
Beautiful creatures, gorgeous place, lovely plants and flowers. I hope that Asian Beetle isn’t one of the destroyers! As for the (young?) runners–yeah, my friend and I, when we used to hike together (pre-covid), would often remark, laughing ruefully, on the youngsters running up steep staircases and trails as we laboured along. But hey–we did very well for people our age! I hope we will do it (or something like it) again, one day. Until then, thank you so much Miles (and Ken) for sharing these wonderful places and things!