*This* is why I pushed the button: Another new-to-me skipper!

There are so many skippers; I had no idea! (Thanks for helping me get interested in skippers, MaryBeth!)

To help myself and my regional coordinator at BAMONA, I try to get both “dorsal” and “ventral” views of butterflies and moths, but the skippers are so fast and usually so “jittery” that I’m generally lucky to get one good shot in focus. In this instance, I have pretty good focus, but a dorsal view just didn’t happen. Nevertheless…

… Shooting first and asking [skipper] questions later, I have this one shot of a particular butterfly. I narrowed it down to a Dun Skipper or Eufala Skipper and this is the former, a Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris; family Hesperiidae). Taken in the campus garden next to the greenhouses. My first capture of a Dun Skipper.

Confirmed at BAMONA as Euphyes vestris or “Dun Skipper”; http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/918113

Confirmed at BugGuide as Euphyes vestris or “Dun Skipper”; http://bugguide.net/node/view/829511

Two years ago today was “double-nickels”; last year was 56; do the arithmetic… My birthday presents from Clare included the macro lens I’ve been using and the Nikon P&S I used in rowing shells last weekend…

One year ago (“56”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-08-22
Two years ago (“Double-nickels”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-08-22

[Thom Mitchell]

@espyetta Since you're mentioned... :)

[Rick Schies]

Oh my what big eyes you have

[MaryBeth Dailey]

I knew there were alot of skippers, but not THIS many skippers. Never heard of a Dun. I don't know how they tell them apart at BAMONA! This guy is very handsome. Are you saying it is your birthday today, Thom? 57? Happy Birthday! So you got a macro lens you are using before your birthday? I would have done the same? What lens is it? I LOVE my macro lens!

[Thom Mitchell]

@espyetta Yeah, #57. But it's just a number, right?
Checked out the sightings map and a couple Dun Skippers have been seen around Atlanta the last couple of years. Get crackin', MaryBeth!
I initially went in to a camera store in Michigan to ask questions and look through some lenses with my camera. Then I asked about re-acquiring a P&S. I left, checked prices online and — long story short — he was pretty competitive on the P&S and — another long story short — he matched Adorama's price on the Canon macro lens.
I did *not* jump in with both feet on the macro lens. I would have liked to have bought the newest one with image stabilization, but I only went to $400+ for the EF-S 60mm f2.8 lens... One of these days I'll have to have desperation shots of the new P&S and the macro lens!

[MaryBeth Dailey]

@rhoing Sounds like great new equipment to round out what you already have. I have the Canon 100mm 2.8 NON IS. When I got it, I was going to try it out for the month, and maybe return it and swap for the I S one. But I got good enough results with the NON IS...I did not want to put another $450 in it, for what I was not sure would be much quality bump up. I am already nervous having my camera bag with me now, with the camera, two kit lens (one telephoto), a Nifty Fifty, and my Canon macro... So to make that macro a $1100 lens, just was a bit too much for me at this point. I am not a pro or anything. I read that when you have the lens really close to an object, the IS was not that instrumental in the process anyway...it was better for distance shots.

[Thom Mitchell]

@espyetta Yeah, I just couldn't justify a four-figure lens. So far I'm happy with much of what I can do easily that was previously difficult or impossible with "close-up filters"...