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[commentary by Will Schenck]: To enjoy the breathtaking mountain views and rolling forest-blanketed valleys from atop the roof of Connecticut alongside this docile, deadly black beast was about as good as it gets.

the following notes by Will Schenck:

At least 13-15 individuals. Habitat was a sizable cranberry bog in New London County approximately 3.5 acres in size, protected by a band of very dense mountain laurel swamp (not fun to bushwhack through) within wider classic eastern Connecticut deciduous forest with very thick understory. This may represent a new site for Bog Copper in CT. The substrate was uniformly cranberry-sphagnum moss; white-and-pink cranberry flowers and young green berries were everywhere. Above the bog floor grew copious rushes; patches of a Rhododendron sp. (no pics, sorry, the butterflies were a little consuming) were interspersed. Other bog plants such as sundews, pitcher plants, or rose pogonias were conspicuously absent.

The coppers were concentrated in a relatively small area identical to the wider bog. We observed both males and females (more males; our photographic bias was to the lovely golden females.) There was little interaction between individuals. We were overjoyed to see so many (13-15), both to see this threatened species thriving at this isolated site and because the conditions (75 degrees, extremely humid, wet post-drizzle, overcast) weren’t classic for butterflies.

This sighting represents the first record of Bog Copper for Connecticut on iNaturalist. If you would like to contact me about these threatened butterflies, please email me at willschenck22@gmail.com.

First Connecticut record since 2017 (DeGenarro) at the same site.

On the margins of an Atlantic White Cedar swamp in an open grassy area, nectaring on Black Cherry in the company of Eastern Pine and Brown Elfin.

As Eastern Redcedar was present at this site we were very cautious to confirm the ID as Hessel’s. We primarily focused on the streaking, incl. 1) the white dash at the very top, which is not set out in Juniper, 2) the prominent white forewing spot, 3) the lowest white crescent bent in the same direction as the one above it (opposite in Juniper). Note also the blue-green hue and the overall greater presence of brown.

If you will it, it is no dream.