Hesperilla ornata (Spotted Sedge-skipper)

Other Common Names

Spotted Skipper

Notes

I’ve not see all that many of these butterflies. The first was feeding from flowers at the side of a path in the Ingleburn Reserve. He flew off before I had a chance to properly see what he was, but I waited for a while and he came back, and fed for long enough for me to get a couple of pictures. I saw another a few weeks later, but was unable to get any photos. Then in March 2005 I saw a female basking low down by the side of a path, and was able to get a few pictures before disturbing her whilst trying to get a look at the underside of her wings.

After the first couple of years of this project I just about stopped finding ornata. I’ve only photographed one since 2008, which is a shame as it’s a lovely skipper. Hopefully my luck will change.

Sightings

Ingleburn Reserve – October, November 2004; March 2005; March 2007
Sydney Harbour National Park, Manly – March 2005
Newport – April 2005
Lawson – December 2008
Killcare, NSW Central Coast – March 2021

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