Springtime Mourning Cloak
This was the 1st Mourning Cloak I was able to photograph this spring, though I'm almost sure I had gotten glimpses of them weeks before. Since they overwinter as adults (albeit in a dormant state) they are usually 1 of the 1st butterflies I see every spring. And although they're around all summer, they're not spotted in traditional butterfly hotspots - meadows with abundant nectar-rich flowers - since they prefer drinking sap or the juices from rotting fruits. Although lighting can affect any view , these butterflies are usually a pretty easy ID. A fresh individual will have rich brown wings with a golden rim; these alone distinguish them from any other area butterfly. Admittedly with a quick sighting in flight where all you see is a largish, dark butterfly, it could potentially be confused with our dark swallowtails or a Red-spotted Purple , but with anything close to a good look you should be able to ID these guys. This individual doesn't look especially fresh, no d...