Mourning Cloak Butterfly: A Visit from the Winter Butterfly

     The Mourning Cloak Butterfly has adapted to take advantage of warm days in the winter. Adults will emerge from hibernation to feed on running sap. Special adaptations for this emergence are glycerols (antifreeze) in their blood and shivering to raise their body temperature.

     The photographed butterfly was observed in March 2013, but one was seen earlier in February.

New visitor at the birdfeeder: White-breasted Nuthatch

I’ve often noticed the White-breasted Nuthatch scurrying down tree trunks head first, and heard the characteristic beep-beep call (like a toy truck). For the first time, however,  I recently witnessed this nuthatch at my safflower seed bird feeder. He’s fast so it wasn’t easy to get a photo. It seems that he’s discovered a “honey hole” and will be a regular visitor from now on.