Butterflies along Big Bend's Lost Mine Trail

The trail is listed as "intermediate" and should be a three-hour roundtrip. It took us 4.5 hours.

Going up the Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend in the crisp morning air in April, we didn't see many butterflies.

But coming down around lunchtime, they were active. A big orange butterfly buzzed us a couple of times, but I wasn't able to identify it.

Common Streaky-Skipper or Scarce Streaky-Skipper? Only a specialist can be sure.

Dainty sulphur

Reakirt's Blue is on the West Texas butterfly checklist. Could this be one?

Something took a bite out of the back of this Gray Hairstreak.

Color of the day: Orange as in Monarch or Hairstreak's spot

Monday morning Monarch moseying among the milkweed.

Good luck, Monarch, on your journey.

With a one-inch wingspan, the much smaller Gray Hairstreak was checking out the Lantana across the way.

The Gray Hairstreak is the most common Hairstreak in North America.

Little tails on their hindwings are hard to see.