bonfrey
@bonfrey.bsky.social
Geochemist in work; butterflies, moths and bird ID in play.
I grew chamomile this year for the first time. Drying the May buds resulted in an unremarkable tea, but now that new plants are coming back in after this summer's heat, I'm game to try again. #chamomile #herbs
November 18, 2025 at 5:09 AM
I grew chamomile this year for the first time. Drying the May buds resulted in an unremarkable tea, but now that new plants are coming back in after this summer's heat, I'm game to try again. #chamomile #herbs
So excited to have this visitor. Although not uncommon in New Mexico (very common in Texas and Mexico), this is the first time I've seen an American snout in my yard. It kept hanging out in the same branch of my pistache tree for an hour Sunday afternoon. #insectthursday #nm #butterflies
October 23, 2025 at 4:59 AM
So excited to have this visitor. Although not uncommon in New Mexico (very common in Texas and Mexico), this is the first time I've seen an American snout in my yard. It kept hanging out in the same branch of my pistache tree for an hour Sunday afternoon. #insectthursday #nm #butterflies
#insectthursday #butterfly I saw my first Atala butterfly while visiting Florida earlier this year. This species had disappeared from Florida in the 20s, but it has made a comeback beginning in the 70s. The caterpillar is on a coontie plant, its preferred host plant. 3/13/25, Sarasota.
October 17, 2025 at 4:21 AM
#insectthursday #butterfly I saw my first Atala butterfly while visiting Florida earlier this year. This species had disappeared from Florida in the 20s, but it has made a comeback beginning in the 70s. The caterpillar is on a coontie plant, its preferred host plant. 3/13/25, Sarasota.
#insectthursday #butterflies #nm
Atlantis fritillary near the Taos ski area, New Mexico, 8/30/25. It amazes me that the female would be described as duller than the male. Her design snaps!
Atlantis fritillary near the Taos ski area, New Mexico, 8/30/25. It amazes me that the female would be described as duller than the male. Her design snaps!
October 10, 2025 at 1:44 AM
#insectthursday #butterflies #nm
Atlantis fritillary near the Taos ski area, New Mexico, 8/30/25. It amazes me that the female would be described as duller than the male. Her design snaps!
Atlantis fritillary near the Taos ski area, New Mexico, 8/30/25. It amazes me that the female would be described as duller than the male. Her design snaps!
October 4, 2025 at 5:30 AM
I guess #worldsnakeday is long over, but here's a black-tailed rattler for your enjoyment. Magdalena Mountains, New Mexico, Sept. 19, 2025. #newmexico #magdalenamountains
October 2, 2025 at 3:21 AM
I guess #worldsnakeday is long over, but here's a black-tailed rattler for your enjoyment. Magdalena Mountains, New Mexico, Sept. 19, 2025. #newmexico #magdalenamountains
Happy to share a photo of this black-tailed bumblebee (Bombus melanopygus) and its buddy, a Southwestern fritillary (Argynnis nausicaa nausicaa) for #insectThursday. 8/23/25, Manzanos Mountains, New Mexico #butterflies #newmexico
September 25, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Happy to share a photo of this black-tailed bumblebee (Bombus melanopygus) and its buddy, a Southwestern fritillary (Argynnis nausicaa nausicaa) for #insectThursday. 8/23/25, Manzanos Mountains, New Mexico #butterflies #newmexico
Still #insectthursday in New Mexico. Checkered white, one of our common ones here. 8/23/25, Manzano Mountains. #butterflies
September 12, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Still #insectthursday in New Mexico. Checkered white, one of our common ones here. 8/23/25, Manzano Mountains. #butterflies
Sometimes the iPhone just nails it. Timber Peak Trail, July 27#naturesky #newmexico #magdalenamountains
August 2, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Sometimes the iPhone just nails it. Timber Peak Trail, July 27#naturesky #newmexico #magdalenamountains
July 25, 2025 at 3:14 AM
A celery looper moth I met at Madison's Montpelier, Virginia, last October. #insectThursday #moths
July 18, 2025 at 1:32 AM
A celery looper moth I met at Madison's Montpelier, Virginia, last October. #insectThursday #moths
Happy World Snake Day. Diamondback rattler near Oro Valley, Arizona, a few years back. #worldsnakeday
July 17, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Happy World Snake Day. Diamondback rattler near Oro Valley, Arizona, a few years back. #worldsnakeday
Lost, alone, but smart,
It bleats at the bedding field;
Elk fawn at stream blank.
Processing worry for this little one, but it likely found its mom when the herd returned in the evening. #wildlife 6/21/25 Ski Apache, New Mexico
It bleats at the bedding field;
Elk fawn at stream blank.
Processing worry for this little one, but it likely found its mom when the herd returned in the evening. #wildlife 6/21/25 Ski Apache, New Mexico
July 4, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Lost, alone, but smart,
It bleats at the bedding field;
Elk fawn at stream blank.
Processing worry for this little one, but it likely found its mom when the herd returned in the evening. #wildlife 6/21/25 Ski Apache, New Mexico
It bleats at the bedding field;
Elk fawn at stream blank.
Processing worry for this little one, but it likely found its mom when the herd returned in the evening. #wildlife 6/21/25 Ski Apache, New Mexico
18 minutes late for #insectThursday, but you're getting one anyway. Just about the only June butterfly I found in our drought ridden central New Mexico, but the monsoons have come, and I'm hoping for some new blooms to attract the butterflies this weekend. Marine blues on mesquite #butterflies
July 4, 2025 at 6:21 AM
18 minutes late for #insectThursday, but you're getting one anyway. Just about the only June butterfly I found in our drought ridden central New Mexico, but the monsoons have come, and I'm hoping for some new blooms to attract the butterflies this weekend. Marine blues on mesquite #butterflies
Female black swallowtail on my chaste tree (vitex), Central New Mexico, 6/28/25. The wear on the wings reminds me of a poem by a friend of mine, "earth-marked like you." A tale of flight, feeding, sex and wind battery - can we assume a good life? #butterflies
July 4, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Female black swallowtail on my chaste tree (vitex), Central New Mexico, 6/28/25. The wear on the wings reminds me of a poem by a friend of mine, "earth-marked like you." A tale of flight, feeding, sex and wind battery - can we assume a good life? #butterflies
I've had little time to chase butterflies this year, but I did add a new butterfly to my life list last month: Palmer's metalmark, the first this season in New Mexico. Also some photos of the location, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, 5/24/25, 1) four-wing saltbush, 2) mesquite, #butterflies
June 7, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I've had little time to chase butterflies this year, but I did add a new butterfly to my life list last month: Palmer's metalmark, the first this season in New Mexico. Also some photos of the location, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, 5/24/25, 1) four-wing saltbush, 2) mesquite, #butterflies
Although I didn't buy any banned books, a friend in southern Colorado took me to the Narrow Gauge Book Coop in Alamosa this March. The original store closed in 2018, and community members banded together to reopen the store. I had to buy some memoirs while I was there, with excellent staff recs.
April 23, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Although I didn't buy any banned books, a friend in southern Colorado took me to the Narrow Gauge Book Coop in Alamosa this March. The original store closed in 2018, and community members banded together to reopen the store. I had to buy some memoirs while I was there, with excellent staff recs.
An early Milbert's tortoiseshell, apparently one of the earliest sightings in the San Luis Valley, Colorado, at least according to the BAMONA moderator for that area. March 2, North Crestone Campground. #Butterflies
April 23, 2025 at 4:00 AM
An early Milbert's tortoiseshell, apparently one of the earliest sightings in the San Luis Valley, Colorado, at least according to the BAMONA moderator for that area. March 2, North Crestone Campground. #Butterflies
Happy Earth Day. Photo from Socorro County, New Mexico, September 2013.
April 23, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Happy Earth Day. Photo from Socorro County, New Mexico, September 2013.
A friend tipped me off that these were flying in the Magdalena Mountains again a couple weeks ago. Time to get out this weekend to see what else is to be found in Socorro County (New Mexico).
April 19, 2025 at 4:23 AM
A friend tipped me off that these were flying in the Magdalena Mountains again a couple weeks ago. Time to get out this weekend to see what else is to be found in Socorro County (New Mexico).
If you see this post, post or quote post a boarded walkway, or something similar. 😁 📷 #Photography #Nature
April 7, 2025 at 1:30 AM
If you see this post, post or quote post a boarded walkway, or something similar. 😁 📷 #Photography #Nature
In a recent trip to Florida, I got to photograph these formerly endangered Eumaeus atala (Atala butterflies or coontie hairstreak, after its host plant the coontie palm, Zamia integrifolia), a first for me. Pollinators garden, 3/13, Sarasota County Extension Service - federal dollars at work.
April 3, 2025 at 5:31 AM
In a recent trip to Florida, I got to photograph these formerly endangered Eumaeus atala (Atala butterflies or coontie hairstreak, after its host plant the coontie palm, Zamia integrifolia), a first for me. Pollinators garden, 3/13, Sarasota County Extension Service - federal dollars at work.
One of my favorite butterflies, the bordered patch, Chlosyne lacinia. Their variability fascinates me, these are all the Arizona subspecies (crocale, the plain black and white)despite the orangish color. All pics same day, same location, Magdalena Mtns, NM, 9/10/2022
February 10, 2025 at 6:23 AM
One of my favorite butterflies, the bordered patch, Chlosyne lacinia. Their variability fascinates me, these are all the Arizona subspecies (crocale, the plain black and white)despite the orangish color. All pics same day, same location, Magdalena Mtns, NM, 9/10/2022
Just found this shot of a Western pygmy blue when I was looking for something else. Love these guys. The smallest butterfly in North America. It's been seen in Hawaii and the Middle East. This was in Socorro County, New Mexico, 11/7/2021.
February 10, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Just found this shot of a Western pygmy blue when I was looking for something else. Love these guys. The smallest butterfly in North America. It's been seen in Hawaii and the Middle East. This was in Socorro County, New Mexico, 11/7/2021.