Gorgeous in Grey, the California Hairstreak

This is a butterfly that I've never ever seen on our property before, in all the 7 years we've been here! Isn't it stunning?! I followed this guy around taking pictures but unfortunately, most of the images could only be taken with the sun behind the butterfly, so they lack the shine I wanted. This picture has wonderful sharpness around the face, but sadly, my dof was not deep enough to clearly capture the entire wings. Live and learn!!

More about this butterfly from Wikipedia:

The California Hairstreak (Satyrium californica) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found from British Columbia south to southern California and east to Colorado.

The wingspan is 25–32 mm. The upperside is brown with an orange spot on the hindwings. The outer edge of the forewings usually has row of orange spots. The underside is brown-grey with orange crescents and a postmedian band of black spots. Each hindwing has two tails. Adults feed on the nectar of various flowers, including Eriogonum and Asclepias species.

The larvae feed on Cercocarpus, Salix species, buckbrush, antelope-brush, oaks, cherry, and saskatoon.