@CWilbur@sfba.social
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CWilbur

@CWilbur@sfba.social

Nope. This isn’t science fiction; no dystopian future. This is here… now. I’m past opining, but willing to converse on any subject that improves lives. #Volcanology, #Petrology, #SW #Engineer, #System Architect, and #SciFi #writer; I really dig #butterflies. Especially the tiny ones. Walker in the Rain. #CowboyBebop

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CWilbur, to animals
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The tragedy of cat paper. Don’t let this happen to you!

CWilbur, to random
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Okay, so today’s search took me back to Calavera, and today was a good day. I’m going to break this story up into the journey to the top of the Calavera “Volcano”, summit observations, and the trip back.
My trip starts at the west end of the preserve which is the entrance to one of Carlsbad’s high schools. There’s a trail that starts here - a dirt road actually - that heads roughly north alongside a Sycamore-lined stream. Here terrain ranges from riparian to chaparral. So as you might guess, this is where most of the bigger butterbirds hang out. I started right out seeing Monarchs. And a few other littles. #

Closeup of nectaring Monarch
A couple of maybe Eufalia Skippers, in what looks like mating situation in trailside weeds
Wing pattern of a flying Skipper.

CWilbur, (edited )
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The road continues north, but after about 1 km I break off on a trail towards the east. From here I zigzag my way up to the top. One reason I hesitated going here on a Sunday is it’s excruciatingly busy. I had a hard time getting away from people. But it worked out.
About halfway up I passed a group of mountain bikers discussing routes. As I passed by, I spotted movement on my left. I focused and saw a Queen #butterfly flying past and back down the hill. I debated running after it but figured I’d look like an idiot and probably lose my footing as well. I gave up and just checked it off in my head as another undocumented sighting. (Keep that thought in mind). Further up I saw Metalmarks and Buckeyes. I was seeing Blues everywhere but they were hard to shoot.

CWilbur,
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Top of the hill was pretty sparse sightings. I suppose the action starts later in the day.

Bernardino Blue (male) in flight.
Anis Swallowtail perched on a Buckwheat blossom.
Mournful Duskywing sipping on Buckwheat blossom juice, while keeping an antenna open for potential usurpers.

CWilbur,
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Heading back down, more poor luck with Blues. One of the units I chased around turned out to be a Marin Blue. Then I spotted a Fatal Metalmark only to lose it in a Lemonadeberry bush. Few decent #butterfly sightings until I got back to the road.

Lorquin’s Admiral greets me from his roadside perch.

CWilbur,
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Which brought me back to the trail entrance, and I was thinking it was all-in-all a fair day. A monarch flew by and I said aloud “Oh you’re still here.” It flew up into a cluster of other that I initially thought were a group of Monarchs. But then as I was already taking my phone out to shoot the scene, I realized I was looking at not one, not two, but three Queens. They let me photograph them. The rest is history.

Queen butterfly on spring foliage.
Queen butterfly on spring foliage.
Queen butterfly in flight.

CWilbur,
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Here’s a few action shots of the Queens.
This observation made the day extra special.

Queen butterflies chasing each other among riparian foliage.
Queen butterflies chasing each other among riparian foliage.
Queen butterflies chasing each other over the trail.

the_etrain, to random
@the_etrain@beige.party avatar

🎶
Yo-ho yo-ho
a shitposter's life for me!
🎶

CWilbur,
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@the_etrain The pirate part anyway. 😬

GryphonSK, to random
@GryphonSK@techhub.social avatar

is unsustainable.

CWilbur,
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@GryphonSK Growth is unsustainable. In true socialism, we’ll all starve together. In capitalism, most of us will die fighting each other while the robber barons sip mint juleps and eat nachos.
But unrestrained growth is the real enemy.

CWilbur, to random
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Posting a Monarch #butterfly one of 3-4 I saw a couple of weeks ago in Oakland.

Monarch floats over the Community Garden in Adam’s Point, Oakland.

CWilbur,
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Now that I've been photographing butterflies for 6 years, Monarchs had become fairly commonplace for me, as my focus shifts to the smaller Lycaenidae #butterfly species. But the Monarchs are really quite special.

BlackAzizAnansi, to random
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I'm not the biggest Linux fan but I'm thinking about getting a separate laptop with Linux on it just to avoid all of this

widely gestures

CWilbur,
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@BlackAzizAnansi Not a bad plan actually. The apps basically look the same.

CWilbur, to random
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today in Copper Creek, were out in force.

Mourning Cloak resting between patrols
Male Sara Orangetip, hanging on thistle.
Tiger Swallowtail flying by, checking things out.

CWilbur,
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More pix of the Reakirt’s Blue.

Reakirt’s Blue, resting with wings open.
Reakirt’s Blue, resting with wings open.
Reakirt’s Blue takes flight.

CWilbur, (edited )
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Other that got seen but not imaged today:
Lorquin’s Admiral 1
Cabbage White several
Checkered White several
Buckeye several
Monarch 1

But here’s a crappy picture of a male Clouded Sulphur flying by.

br00t4c, to random
@br00t4c@mastodon.social avatar

Trump's 'next crime' will put US democracy in 'far more danger' than 2020: election lawyer

https://www.alternet.org/mark-elias-trump-2024/

CWilbur,
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@br00t4c Kinda hoping for a "first-day" haircut.

br00t4c, to random
@br00t4c@mastodon.social avatar

Conservatives are once again fighting over whether Biden pooped his pants

https://www.dailydot.com/debug/joe-biden-d-day-france-poop-pants/

CWilbur,
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@br00t4c That's called projection.

realTuckFrumper, to random
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Hunter Biden gun trial: Beau Biden’s widow says Hunter introduced her to crack https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/06/06/hunter-biden-hallie-gun-trial-drugs/2481717687210/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

CWilbur,
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@realTuckFrumper Why are we doing this?

CWilbur, to random
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Back to Daley Ranch and adjacent Dixon Lake. Good sun, and the were flying. Still not getting the specie variation I hoped for. Not pictured: Any Whites. They were out, of course.

Buckeye in flight. There were tons of Buckeyes today.
Gray Hairstreak, hidden in foliage. There were lots of Grays too! Two generations of them.
Metalmark on Broom. My one Metalmark for the day but I’m sure there were more.

CWilbur,
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More shots of the Northern White Skipper.

Northern White Skipper
Northern White Skipper
Just seeing if you’re paying attention. This is “Skipper” from Gilligan’s Island.

CWilbur,
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@ELS That was a terrible shot, but at least my eyes were in focus. Blues of all kinds are my obsession. Blues and Hairstreaks. My favorite shots from last year.

Southern Silvery Blue
Acmon Blue
Melissa Blue

CWilbur,
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@ELS And let's not forget Junior! (Pigmy Blue).

CWilbur, to random
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Didn’t do any #butterfly hunting today, but I happened upon a couple of Cloaks in the atrium of the Escondido Civic Center.

Another Cloak just below in the Lantana.

CWilbur, to random
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Forgot to post this one. . Reakirt’s Blue with outer wing pattern exposed.

CWilbur, to random
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And today’s . It’s not a hike without a snake. This one’s a Gopher.

Gopher snake slides into the grasses.

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