Some butterflies like this Mourning Cloak overwinter as adults and can be seen flying around the forest early in spring before the snow melts. Today was the first day of the year that felt enough like spring to possibly see a butterfly. I went out with that in mind and after about an hour of walking around the woods I saw a shadow glide across the ground that struck me as butterfly. I looked up and all around and didn't see the source of the shadow. I lingered around the area for some time and started thinking that I probably saw the shadow of a bird flying overhead, probably a chickadee. Then a few moments later this Mourning Cloak flew by and landed nearby on the ground. And that was my first butterfly of 2013!