First butterfly of spring

Mourning Cloak Butterfly -- 3/20/10
photo by Ed Lam


Ed Lam, once a Central Park regular until he and his growing family moved to Eastchester, writes about the photo above:

Here's today's Mourning Cloak. .. my first butterfly of 2010. This is one of the few species that overwinters as an adult and during warm spells may be found basking and flying in the woods.

What's true for Eastchester is likely to be true for Central Park as well. With today's weather in the 70s, Mourning Cloaks are sure to be waking up from their winter sleep in various locations throughout the park. One likely place: the outcrop of rocks near the steps going up to the old weather station at Belvedere Castle.