Santa Ana NWR Christmas Bird (& Butterfly) Count

[Anne Kilmer]

Neil Jones wrote:
> 
> 
> It is nice to know in the depths of a British winter that at least somewhere
> there are butterflies flying. The last lepidopteran  I saw was probably a
> clothes moth. The weather here is dreadful. I got soaked coming home
> and then couldn't get the heating to come on ARGH!!!
> Roll on Spring.
> 
> Keep those lovely exotic reports coming to brighten up winter for those
> of us living further north.
> 
> Nadolig Llawen  (Happy Christmas)
>> Neil Jones- Neil at nwjones.demon.co.uk http://www.nwjones.demon.co.uk/
>
Ah yes. From the hot tub this morning, as the steam rose around the
merry faces of my four granddaughters ... 
Battus polydamas the gold-rimmed swallowtail. Giant swallowtail (Papilio
cresphontes) nectaring (I think) in the Mexican sunflowers which have so
arranged themselves that the only good view is from the roof.
Long-tailed skippers Urbanus proteus and zebra longwing Heliconius
charitonius. These are common winter residents here. 
I also keep a hot-tub bird list; birds we have seen while reposing.
These have included magnificent frigate birds, brown pelicans, and,
once, a bald eagle. Turkey vultures, (Look alive, we say, here come the
buzzards) a pigeon hawk (merlin) snatching an indignant starling from a
tree ... today, there was a spotted oriole calling. They enjoy eating
flowers, and are a fine sight as they tear up a blue skyvine flower. A
bright golden bird. 
And then, later today, a single wood stork, fine in black and white
plumage. 
Temperatures in the low eighties. Clear, sunny weather. Y'all come, you
hear? 
Bird count is scheduled for Jan. 2 in the Weat Palm Beach area. 
Anne Kilmer
South Florida