Mid-June through to mid-August marks my brief hiatus from the birding world. The desire is there, but unfortunately the birds usually are not. They’re busy making the next generation, and later, preparing for the long journey back to their southern wintering grounds.
So in the “dog days of birding,” I turn my attentions to butterflies and dragonflies. While I don’t go after these creatures with the same flair and gusto as my avian obsession, I still enjoy discovering new species and finding unexpected surprises. The identifications are a lot more challenging (especially with dragon- and damselflies, which often are only differentiated by the most minute details), but it’s the challenge that keeps it interesting.
Below I present a sampling of some of my latest discoveries. I’ve taken a real interest in the Lycaenidae family of butterflies, the small gossamer-wing species for which this post is titled. They are quite amazing in their delicate beauty, and test my abilities both with identification and photography.
Antigius attilia
Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
Taiwan Wave-eye (Ypthima multistriata)
Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
Aeromachus inachus
Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
Gakhwa Reservoir, Gwangju, South Korea
Wide-bellied Skimmer (Lyriothemis pachygastra)
Gwangjuho Lake Eco-Park, Gwangju, South Korea
Wide-bellied Skimmer (Lyriothemis pachygastra)
Gwangjuho Lake Eco-Park, Gwangju, South Korea
On the Wing 