Excellent article. I had no idea there were so many species of skipper! Here in Scotland, we didn't have any skippers, until a few years ago when the Small Skipper found its way up to Scotland from England (a beneficiary of climate change). Thanks for the phylogeny tree, very interesting to see how the butterflies diverged from moths.
Oh, yes, thanks, we have Large Skippers too now, I'd forgotten that, they're even newer to Scotland than the Small Skippers. England also has Essex Skippers.
Brian: I think I've mentioned I'm involved in a project about Thoreau...your degree of observation rivals his (and, frankly, your writing is easier to follow.)
"How often do any of us sit in one place in nature and devote two hours to nothing more than watching what comes and goes?"
This is my new life's goal! We focus on the conservation of beneficial insects and soil microbial life on my farm here in Maine. So I have a special affinity for all the teeny tinies. I'll be sure to look for the skippers when I am on the field!
Wow! I never spent time with iNaturalist before I did with your link to skippers of the world. A great way to see the world with new eyes. I clicked, and clicked, and clicked. Deeper and further. I met new skippers, people, and landscapes. Then I looked for New England Mulberry Wing reports. Yes, my place for seeing them is used and I am sure I told folks where to look. Ron and I were the first in the club to share that site that has a number of unusual grass skippers each year. And yes, it does take time to observe and come to love these mighty mites. Thank you, Bryan.
My husband did a lot of macro photography when he was younger. We had one of his portraits of a skipper on a dandelion enlarged to 16x24 and hung it in the living room. We called it “The Emotional Moth” because of the expressive little face he captured. We didn’t know the difference back then, and as you say, a butterfly is technically a moth, so our younger selves are off the hook. I haven’t thought about that portrait in years … wonder where it got to?
So many incredible insights, thank you! I love picturing Mulberry Wings as “10-year-old kids playing ice hockey: cute in their awkward determination.” 🥰🦋
Whether it is for two hours or twenty minutes, I find sitting in one place in nature with the singular purpose of watching what comes and goes to be cathartic.
Just yesterday I spent a lovely few hours counting butterflies for Audubon at Corkscrew Swamp in Collier County Florida. And yes! We counted skippers! Thank you for this lovely post.
Love the way you illuminate the tiny creatures that share their planet with us. Last week my son and I walked around our yard in Seal Cove on Mount Desert Island in Maine, paused to admire the fuchsia blooms of liatris and we discovered a dozen or so dun skippers feasting. Fascinating to observe and a new butterfly for me. 💜
Excellent article. I had no idea there were so many species of skipper! Here in Scotland, we didn't have any skippers, until a few years ago when the Small Skipper found its way up to Scotland from England (a beneficiary of climate change). Thanks for the phylogeny tree, very interesting to see how the butterflies diverged from moths.
Thanks, Juliet. I kind of like it that Scotland has Small and Large skippers: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=7382&quality_grade=research&taxon_id=122493&verifiable=any&view=species
Five species in the UK: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=6857&quality_grade=research&taxon_id=122493&verifiable=any&view=species
Oh, yes, thanks, we have Large Skippers too now, I'd forgotten that, they're even newer to Scotland than the Small Skippers. England also has Essex Skippers.
Wonderful writing as always, you have inspired me to spend two hours sitting in one place looking in the woods this weekend.
I myself used to do that beside the Huron River in Ann Arbor -- long time ago!
Brian: I think I've mentioned I'm involved in a project about Thoreau...your degree of observation rivals his (and, frankly, your writing is easier to follow.)
Very kind of you, David. I'm looking forward to our chatting some on Thoreau.
"How often do any of us sit in one place in nature and devote two hours to nothing more than watching what comes and goes?"
This is my new life's goal! We focus on the conservation of beneficial insects and soil microbial life on my farm here in Maine. So I have a special affinity for all the teeny tinies. I'll be sure to look for the skippers when I am on the field!
Hope you also have a scope! :-)
Wow! I never spent time with iNaturalist before I did with your link to skippers of the world. A great way to see the world with new eyes. I clicked, and clicked, and clicked. Deeper and further. I met new skippers, people, and landscapes. Then I looked for New England Mulberry Wing reports. Yes, my place for seeing them is used and I am sure I told folks where to look. Ron and I were the first in the club to share that site that has a number of unusual grass skippers each year. And yes, it does take time to observe and come to love these mighty mites. Thank you, Bryan.
iNaturalist is incredible in so many way -- I'll write about it at some point.
I will look for them.
I photographed a silver spotted skipper today!
They're beasts! 😁
Holy cow--your Substack is a gem. How did I not find this sooner!? I love what I've learned today.
Thanks very much, Sarah. So nice to see you here.
My husband did a lot of macro photography when he was younger. We had one of his portraits of a skipper on a dandelion enlarged to 16x24 and hung it in the living room. We called it “The Emotional Moth” because of the expressive little face he captured. We didn’t know the difference back then, and as you say, a butterfly is technically a moth, so our younger selves are off the hook. I haven’t thought about that portrait in years … wonder where it got to?
I wanna see photos! 😝😄
I particularly love the ending of this--for me, too, two hours spent like that are usually the two best hours of my week, or day.
Once I get home, and settled, I'm very much looking forward to reading your phone essay.
I guarantee you will be mildly frustrated by my inability to more accurately describe blue butterflies. 🦋😂
So many incredible insights, thank you! I love picturing Mulberry Wings as “10-year-old kids playing ice hockey: cute in their awkward determination.” 🥰🦋
Lots of those little butterflies around LA!
Whether it is for two hours or twenty minutes, I find sitting in one place in nature with the singular purpose of watching what comes and goes to be cathartic.
Sometimes I'm finding it in two minutes as well. 🦋🐌
Just yesterday I spent a lovely few hours counting butterflies for Audubon at Corkscrew Swamp in Collier County Florida. And yes! We counted skippers! Thank you for this lovely post.
Yay. Corkscrew = Heaven.
Love the way you illuminate the tiny creatures that share their planet with us. Last week my son and I walked around our yard in Seal Cove on Mount Desert Island in Maine, paused to admire the fuchsia blooms of liatris and we discovered a dozen or so dun skippers feasting. Fascinating to observe and a new butterfly for me. 💜
I'm seeing lots of jaunty Duns as well (up toward the headwaters of the Machias).
We have an abundance of Silver-spotted skippers here in NC, but it's the Fiery skippers that have my heart.
Sorry for the late reply, MK: Poetry of Fiery Skipper some day? (Its name alone is poetic, no?)