A Day at Bull Creek WMA and Daytona Beach
This past weekend, we set out on another exciting field trip—this time to the scenic Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area in central Florida. Nestled within a mosaic of pine flatwoods, cypress domes, and palmetto thickets, Bull Creek is a biodiverse haven that offers a glimpse into the wild heart of the state. The weather couldn’t have been more ideal—bright sun, blue skies, and a light breeze carrying the scent of pine through the open landscape..
We hit the road at 10:00 AM, embarking on a three-hour drive filled with anticipation and field guide chatter. By around 1:00 PM, we arrived at Bull Creek, hopeful and excited. Our target for the day: the elusive and declining Eastern Arogos Skipper (Atrytone arogos arogos), a grass skipper of conservation concern known to occur in select Florida habitats.
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We first explored a clearing that looked promising, but butterfly activity was surprisingly low. Not much was flying apart from a few scattered duskywings and the occasional buckeye gliding by. Still, we remained hopeful. Continuing along a sunlit trail, the pace quickly picked up—almost immediately, we spotted a few small orange skippers, and with a closer look through the viewfinder, there it was: Eastern Arogos Skipper!
We spent a good amount of time photographing the individual, admiring its subtle charm and golden-orange hue against the grassy backdrop. Despite continuing down the trail in hopes of finding more, the butterfly diversity remained fairly modest. We logged a few more species: Common Buckeye, Red-banded Hairstreak, Pearl Crescent, and some Erynnis duskywings, but overall, the butterfly numbers were low.
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With time to spare and the sun still high, we made a spontaneous decision to wrap up the day with a coastal detour. Just an hour east of Bull Creek lies Daytona Beach, and soon enough we found ourselves trading boots for bare feet and field nets for foamy waves. It was the perfect way to wind down—laughing, cooling off in the surf, and reflecting on our day.
Though butterfly numbers weren’t high, spotting the Eastern Arogos Skipper made the trip well worth it. Every outing reminds us that sometimes it's about more than just the species count—it's about the landscapes, the shared discoveries, and the joy of being in wild places. Until the next adventure! 🦋🌲🌊
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