Butterflies are already starting appear at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, including this tiny Spring Azure butterfly (Celestrina ladon) that I photographed there on 20 March. These little butterflies look pretty nondescript when their wings are close, but when they are flying, you can see the beautiful blue coloration of their inner wings.
Spring Azure butterflies are almost always the first butterflies that I see in the spring. A few other species, like Mourning Cloaks, overwinter as adults, but Spring Azure butterflies spend the winter in the pupal stage in a chrysalis and emerge as adults in the early spring.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Lovely capture of this beauty, Mike. I love the pattern, even if you do call it nondescript! And the rocks / gravel made a nice backdrop.
Several years ago they covered some of the trails that run parallel to the water with that rocky gravel. I think it helped retain the soil, but occasionally it makes the footing a little slippery. As you noted, though, it did make for an interesting background for the little butterfly.
A happy spring sight!