Recent sightings

94 degrees, partially cloudy. Pipevine Swallowtail was a new butterfly at this location. We also saw one at Harris Neck NWR this Spring and it was a first there for us!

I am identifying the grass skipper in photo as Dion because when I viewed it in binoculars I got a good look below and saw two pale rays against a reddish brown hindwing color.

Today I took a ride around some roads that I haven’t traveled since the Breeding Bird Atlas of 2000. I was delighted to find a wet ditch with many Bronze Coppers. I counted 10 within a hundred feet. I can only imagine how many there would have been if I counted the whole road. I also found another one on another road that was unexpected.

Mostly sunny all day with high dew point. The same female Monarch flew around checking put the garden and areas of milkweed while I worked outdoors. It’s the same Monarch as it is obvious by the color and conditions of its wings are run down.

My first time at this park exploring trails and fields. Walked 11 miles…Lots of habitat, not many butterflies. But I got some great exercise.

(18-638) w/R.Harrod.

90 - 95 degrees, winds SSE 10 MPH, 64% humidity, mostly sunny skies, ridiculously hot

Certified garden #2490, partly sunny and 88 degrees-heat index of 94, some breeze.

9 am to 4:15 pm. Hot and humid sunny morning followed by partly cloudy skies through an equally hot afternoon. Met by heavy thunderstorms as leaving the park. Regenerating areas that burned in the last year are holding the rare skippers. Many nectar sources: Pickerelweed, Barbara’s buttons, Florida False Sunflower, Carphephorus sp., Redroot, Blue Mistflower, Bidens alba, Pulchea spp., Milkwort, Spermacoce, Goldenrod, and Turkey Tangle. It’s looking to be a fantastic showing of Arogos Skipper again this season. EPerry & RWarner

Started out 100% cloudy but ended up with a good day of butterflys. Saw a Banded Hairstreak and Zebra Swallowtail for the first time in the Gardens. Also saw a Common Sootywing that we don’t see very often.

Spent the afternoon searching for Two-Spotted Skipper in area where a photo record exists from 2009 (the most recent sighting I know of for MN). No luck. But, saw a huge diversity of species so a good day nonetheless

89 degrees Sunny and light breeze.

With Jane Lampkin
9 - 11:30; 86-95
Abundant Maypop means super abundant Gulf Fritillaries. A dozen were feasting on dead armadillo beside at least two beetle and three fly species.

1010am-1pm, 88-91 degrees, sunny, calm