Another Apodemia species of Metalmarks, far-West Texas

Palmer's Metalmark (Apodemia palmeri)

I really have an affinity towards this genus.

Heidi pointed out a pair of palmeri nectaring on a flowering mesquite, on Maravillas Ranch.  This property is ~ 15-20 miles south of Marathon, Brewster Co., TX, as the Brushfoot flies.



Remember, another Apodemia species was found earlier on this property, Apodemia duryi or Mexican Metalmark.  Click that sentence for a link to pics.
Also recall, Maravillas Ranch is the featured private ranch tour with excellent bird guides (maybe butterflies too...) during the Birds and Butterflies of the Big Bend festival.  It's coming up SOON.  Click here.

For diagnostic ID on A. palmeri, we are looking particularly for ORANGE MARGINS on the uppersides of all four wings.



Palmer's Metalmark generally flies at least 2 broods over spring to fall.  This is the first-of-the-year (FOY) for this observer.  Hopefully, then, we will continue to see them a while longer.

The species hostplant is known to be mesquites.



We have plenty of mesquites in certain areas.  Remember, there were two on this particular mesquite (one was fairly worn).  Maybe the female will ovi-posit, place eggs, on that very one.

Very cool bug.
As was the specific individual bird species we were following as it was singing...

Heidi pointed out this butterfly while we were following the bird.

We are looking forward to seeing folks in just about a week at the festival the Gage Hotel and Gage Gardens are hosting!  And whenever y'all are in the Marathon and Brewster Co. area, let us know!

Have a good evening.
It was a great day.

Palmer's Metalmark

Apodemia palmeri on Phyla incisa or Sawtooth Frogfruit

A fairly sought after butterfly, including by Texans, the Palmer's Metalmark continues to have a strong showing this year.  At least it has in Brewster County.


This species is truly a trans-Pecos butterfly when reviewing its range within the state.  It also occurs in parts of New Mexico and portions of Arizona.

This particular individual was photographed on the road to Post Park, a few miles south of Marathon in Brewster County.  The patches of frogfruit alongside this road, generally in the culverts, can be quite productive for butterflies.




Click for previous posts regarding this species.

Here's to a great Fall..

Palmer's Metalmark, still flying.

Apodemia palmeri, Palmer's Metalmark

Marathon
Brewster County

Festival butterfly list

 ...as composed primarily by Kenn Kaufman, Matt York, Clay Taylor and Kelly Walker during the dinner; further notes, names and photos to be added later!

Butterfly species list – Birds and Butterflies of the Big Bend, July 19-22, 2012

Pipevine Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail
Checkered White
Orange Sulphur
Southern Dogface
Sleepy Orange
Mexican Yellow
Dainty Sulphur
Lyside Sulphur
Large Orange Sulphur
Marine Blue
Reakirt’s Blue
Western Pygmy-Blue
Gray Hairstreak
Great Purple Hairstreak
Fatal Metalmark
Palmer’s Metalmark
Mexican Metalmark
Gulf Fritillary
Variegated Fritillary
Pearl Crescent
Vesta Crescent
Phaon Crescent
Elada Checkerspot
Tiny Checkerspot
Bordered Patch
Question Mark
Red Admiral
West Coast Lady
Common Buckeye
Tropical Buckeye
Common Mestra
Hackberry Emperor
Empress Leilia
Tawny Emperor
American Snout
Queen
Acacia Skipper
Mournful Duskywing
Common/White Checkered-Skipper
Desert Checkered-Skipper
Small Checkered-Skipper
Common Streaky-Skipper
Common Sootywing
Fiery Skipper
Whirlabout
Orange Skipperling
Nysa Roadside-Skipper
Dotted Roadside-Skipper
Texas Roadside-Skipper

Looking back on 2012

2012 in review... something of a daunting task, but we generally do a semi-annual update and the timing is about right for one. Let the festival of links begin!

Changes and challenges:

In somewhat exciting news, we've decided to branch out a bit - we've always done informal guiding, but now we've actually listed regional guiding here on the blog. Regardless of skill level, we're more than happy to introduce folks to the birds (and butterflies) or general nature of the region; Marathon is our home turf, but as long as our schedules work out, we're quite happy to help out with Balmorhea, the Davis Mountains and whatever else suits you. Year listers, county listers, target birding or simply soaking up the region - we'd be happy to help. 

It was also in 2012 that eBird reviewing for Reeves and Pecos Counties fell into play: Pecos hasn't even been touched yet, but the learning curve has gone from vertical to... still pretty steep. It's all in the name of progress, right? Speaking of progress, there's another Sul Ross State University grad in the family! After 9 years, 7 moves, 3 schools and 2 states, Heidi finished ~160 hours of a B.A.

This was also the first year that both of us were recruited to co-lead trips for the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. For 2011 we were tied up with a booth, so 2012 was a bit more freeing, even if that free time was used to track down speaker/sponsor/leader people for the summer festival!

Last year saw 131 blog posts here, peaking in July with 20 posts. Can't imagine why... we only assembled the finest crew of Texas birders with Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman in attendance!

From left to right: Cameron Carver, Kelly Bryan, Matthew York, Heidi Trudell, Kimberly Kaufman, Kenn Kaufman, and Steve Gross. Mark Flippo disappeared in the photo; ninjas do not show up in photographs. Photo by Patty Pasztor.

Blog factoids and people aside, it was quite a year for birds in our region (roughly Brewster, Jeff Davis and Reeves Counties), including but not limited to:
January - Nutting's Flycatcher, a life bird for both of us!)
April - Swainson's and Hermit Wablers
August - Black-billed Cuckoo, Black-throated Green Warbler
October - Sabine's Gull - another double life bird, Varied Thrush, Surf Scoter and Red Phalarope
November - Williamson's Sapsucker* (usually in Jeff Davis Co, not Marathon!)
December - Red Crossbill - it most certainly has been Winter of the Crossbills, and not just for our region. They've been reported all over the southern states and throughout much of Texas. In December we also snuck off to Lubbock to see a double-life Northern Shrike!

Most cooperative non-passerine of the year goes to a pair of Zone-tailed Hawks that cooperated for the festival, tending to their large nestling (still in nest) in front of a group of ~15 or so folks!

Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus), photo by Matt York.

...but let's not forget the butterflies that made this year amazing:
Palmer's Metalmark stole the show for the entire summer and well into fall. Common Mestras made an exceptional appearance nearly daily in our yard - not that they ever landed - and made a surge throughout the state. And Big Bend? Diversity was fantastic, and we only made it down there a few times! The festival list was also quite impressive.

Arizona Sister (Adelpha eulalia), photo by Matt York.

Moths took on a whole new meaning to us in 2012, with regular sessions: Summer was great for blacklighting big moths and medium moths and little moths, but the fall threw amazing diversity at us. Biggest miss of the year: Mexican Agapema. We must have slept through it. But, really, the mothy highlight of the year: Plagiomimicus olvello, our beloved Planet Arium Moth.

Planet Arium Moth (Plagiomimicus olvello), photo by Matt York.

It will be interesting to see what 2013 brings; we're already off to a good start with more Red Crossbills and a Rough-legged Hawk! Rumor has it that August 8-11 will be the next birding festival out here, but details are still in the works.

Happy New Year and happy trails,
-Heidi & Matt

Snippets of the festival

Among other things, there was an official unveiling of a brand new Swarovski scope - the ATX/STX beast(s)... here's a lovely writeup from Hugh over at Round Robin. Our perk was getting the demo from Clay Taylor and both Kaufmans!

Photos pending; we're en route to Santa Fe, NM at the moment...

These notes via the Gage Hotel's facebook page for the event:

Wednesday, July 18

Matthew York - Bee brush (Aloysia gratissima) is blooming all over the area. Maravillas Ranch was alive with pollinators this morning. Check for Bee brush around the entire area for butterflies and other pollinators. You can see it. You can hear it. You can smell it.
Several acacia and mesquite still have blooms as well.

Clayton Taylor - After the drive from Corpus Christi, we have arrived in Marathon. Now having dinner at the Gage Restaurant, and a Question Mark just landed on my shoulder. First butterfly of the -- Patty Waits Beasley - I adore the Gage Hotel!
-- Carolyn Ohl - Awesome. Hope everyone has a super time!


Thursday, July 19

Matthew York - male Western Tanager flew through GGardens, and ~ 7 Yellow-headed Blackbirds landed on the near SW corner f grassland, just on other side of bridge.
Matthew York - The Taylor's are out in the gardens. Gerald Sneed is looking for the vocaling Bell's Vireos..

Matthew York - Good start! And we have rain!


Friday, July 20
Matthew York - Large group for the butterfly walk this afternoon. Thanks for the extra help from other folks, the number of participants was quite manageable.
I never thought I would say "the scope helped quite a bit with butterflies."
This, a scope that Clay Taylor brought that has a 7-foot close focus! Incredibly helpful to manage a large group for a butterfly walk.
Some highlights included West Coast Lady, Empress Leilia, and Desert Checkered-Skipper.
-- Matthew York - I meant to add, "glad to see so much interest!"
Matthew York - Photography workshop currently going on..

Edit: On Sunday, July 20, Carolyn Ohl made a note about the festival over at her blog.


Saturday, July 21
Matthew York - Maravillas Ranch was great! Excellent birds and bugs. We need to compile lists..
KKaufman talk was fantastic. It was wonderful to see Tony Gallucci sidle in for the Keynote address.
Good people all over the place this weekend.
-- Carolyn Ohl - I'm so glad to hear that. You and Heidi can pat yourselves on the back for me. What -- Matthew York - Thank you, Carolyn. Very kind words. I thank all the excellent trip and activity leaders. Not a one of this great cast hesitated to help out. That was an excellent crew.
Just off the top of my tired head, butterflies might have been the continuing Palmer's Metalmark sighting. A single adult was at a kidneywood. Also 2-3 Texas Roadside-Skipper during the entire hike was excellent.
Varied Bunting singing on one side while a Painted Bunting sang on another was very nice. Peregrine Falcon is always great. The Zone-tailed Hawks, one of which carried food (rabbit) to a nestling. ..
-- Carolyn Ohl - Awesome I'm so happy for you. Next year the festival will fill up fast!
-- Tony Gallucci - Congrats to everyone on a great first run!!! Hope it only builds from here on out!

Heidi Trudell - I think I know what's on my schedule again for next year!
-- Carolyn Ohl - Great! I think I know too.
Sunday, July 22

Madeline Averett - Heidi and Matt are such incredible gifts. I am so happy to have spent time getting to know them and to have met new friends this weekend.
The highlight for me was seeing the Zone tailed hawk nest complete with nestling, adult flying over with bunny in it's talons. WOW!! Birding with Steve Gross and Mark Flippo, Alice and Mary was fantastic!! Then to top it off I got to hang out with Heidi and Patt at breakfast. I had a great drive down Hwy 90. The Cenizo is blooming everywhere and is gorgeous.
-- Carolyn Ohl - I always love a happy beginning!
-- Heidi Trudell - Madeline, we may have to coax you to leave that on our guestbook post ;-)
-- Jan Allen - I'm so glad you went to the Festival Madeline!!! I sure wish I could have been there as well, but I can picture the energy. Matt and Heidi are super-great!
-- Carolyn Ohl - Ditto!
-- Heidi Trudell - Pencil it in for next year!

Madge Lindsay - Congratulations to the organizers, speakers, guides, sponsors and participants on a successful birding and butterfly festival. The hard work and planning by the organizers has launched what could become one of the state's most popular nature festivals. Kudos to all and keep it going!!


Friday, July 28 - via National Moth Week -
Kenn Kaufman - I saw a lot of neat things in Marathon. But the neatest thing was to observe how Heidi Trudell and Matthew York were getting people turned on to birds, butterflies, moths, and more. They're two experts who really know how to share the excitement of nature.