female Horace's DuskywingToday I spent about five hours at Point Pelee to search for butterflies. The goal was to find at least one Horace's Duskywing. I missed them on the last two tries, but obviously did not spend enough time then. I managed to find two (for sure) today!
I was only able to photograph one, but that was good enough. It was south of West Beach parking lot along the edge of the beach. The other one was just a little farther south.
I made two round trips on West Beach trail, and it was a hot day. No wind. There were lots of butterflies, including many Painted Ladies, Silver-spotted Skippers, and crescents.
The butterflies are always attracted to knapweed, so I recommend you check those plants wherever present. Although the knapweed is well past its prime, there were still a few flowers out. The Horace's I photographed was on knapweed.
They have been here the last month, so they are obviously breeding here this year. Needless to say, it was first for me.
I also saw three more Gray Hairstreaks. They must be having a good year, or else I am just getting lucky with them. 
They were on knapweed as well. The Gray Hairstreak species will frequently open its wings, unlike the Satyrium hairstreaks.
They were on knapweed as well. The Gray Hairstreak species will frequently open its wings, unlike the Satyrium hairstreaks.Gray Hairstreak (wings open)
Lots of Common Buckeyes were around. I spotted at least eight today.
The only other skipper besides Silver-spotted was a Peck's. I have seen quite a few of those near home recently. Alan Wormington tells me that this is the first record of Peck's Skipper within the park since 1996!
There were very few sulphurs, but I checked each one closely since a Southern Dogface-Sulphur was seen recently. Not luck with that southern species today.
Peck's Skipper (distant shot)
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