It was turning out to be a disappointing year for butterflies, but early July more than made up for it with record (for me) numbers of hairstreaks and opportunities to get my best photos for two species I had never been able to get decent photos of in the past including this Striped Hairstreak. These butterflies are widespread but never common. I only saw maybe 5 Striped Hairstreaks and 15 Acadian Hairstreaks over a couple of days in various places which for these guys is a lot compared to past years in the same places. It could just be luck being in the right place at the right time this year. A couple of days can make a huge different with butterflies. I counted a combined total of 11 Striped and Acadian Hairstreaks in one area and a few days later saw none in the same area. I must have been lucky and been there just after they emerged. But it does seem, when looking at what others are recording, that we are indeed having a very good year for hairstreaks. I do see two or three Striped Hairstreaks every year including one in my yard at some point, but in 7 years I was never able to get a decent photo of one until now.