Banded Hairstreak at Seaton Trail: August 2020

 Banded Hairstreak
 Banded Hairstreak

Most hairstreaks have thin hairlike tails projecting from the hind wings and delicate streaks below.

 Banded Hairstreak
 Banded Hairstreak

Each hind wing often bears a burst of bright red, orange or blue below.

 Banded Hairstreak

Males are warm brownish-black while females are slate-coloured.

 Banded Hairstreak
 Banded Hairstreak

This common hairstreak clings to low leaves and shrubs bathed in sunbeams and engages all newcomers in territorial tussles.

 Banded Hairstreak
 Banded Hairstreak
 Banded Hairstreak

Hairstreak information from National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Butterflies

Other flyers:

Northern Pearly Eye
Northern Pearly Eye
Ebony Jewelwing (male)
Ebony Jewelwing (female)
Asian Beetle
 Ichneumon wasp

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:

Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine)
Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
Goat’s-beard (Tragopogon)
White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
Highbush-cranberry (Viburnum opulus)
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides)
Prickly Sow-thistle (Sonchus asper)
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Blackberry (Rubus)
St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Elecampane (Inula helenium)
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Willow Pine Cone Gall
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Inky Cap mushrooms
Bulblet Fern
Lopseed (Phryma leptostachya)
Purple-flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)
Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)
Joe-pye-weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
Goldenrod galls
Bird Vetch (Vitis cracca)
Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata)
Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

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

2 thoughts on “Banded Hairstreak at Seaton Trail: August 2020

  1. Dilys Bowman

    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.

    Reply
  2. Lisa Volkov

    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!

    Reply

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