Recent sightings

We have had a week or so of weather in the high 60’s and low 70’s. Mid-day today a Pipevine Swallowtail showed up, the first butterfly I have seen in several weeks.

Recent sightings for the past week.

Partly sunny and 80 degrees.The Mazans Scallopwing and Cloudless Sulphur were females.

Light winds, sunny and mid 60’s. Still have >12 Black Swallowtail caterpillars in various stages of development. I also have a Cloudless Sulphur chrysalis.

Sunny and 66 degrees. A new late date for Zabulon Skippers for us. Two are still persisting.

Previous early date in this area for Dorantes Longtail was 22 November. Also located another Southern Dogface (maybe one of the two found on 15 Nov 2021 https://sightings.naba.org/sightings/20709) These are good records for me in inland southwest Georgia.

1230-1515, 73-78F, Wind SE 5-10MPH, Cloud Cover 0-2% very clear, Fields and wooded areas near swamps. Georgia Coastal Plain in SW Georgia.

Partly sunny to sunny, with some light winds. High of 70 degrees.

70 degrees, sunny.

Highlight: Two Southern Dogface which are fairly rare for inland southwest Georgia.

1500-1600, 70F, Sunny, Field next to swamp. Georgia Coastal Plain.

Hazy sunshine, temps in 50s

Sunny and 65 degrees. Nectaring on tropical plants at residence, Wild Mustard in the fields & Pecan Orchard. I am sure they were more skippers but we were busy gathering Pecans with only a cell phone.

While on vacation in Florida, discovered a colony of Atala Butterflies at an old nursery in Rockledge. The nursery is called Rockledge Gardens and has been in existence since the 1960’s. It is located in Brevard County in Florida. The host plant, Coontie, is planted in a large bed in the parking lot. The entire lifecycle was there! In addition to over three dozen adults, there were also eggs—some with first instar caterpillars just emerging. I also found one chrysalis. This is the first year that the nursery has seen the butterflies. The Atala Butterfly is fairly rare, being thought extinct at one point. It is making a comeback! Thank You Rockledge Gardens.

Temperature high of 70 degrees. Today was sunny 45-62 degrees.

Buster Island Loop; unusual number of Ocola Skippers

Beautiful 70 degree day, asters beckoning, but butterflies in short supply. Except for Mylitta Crescents which sometimes stopped to nectar. One little orange skipper was likely a Woodland Skipper, but unable to confirm.

Sunny, breezy, 64 degrees. This is the latest date that we’ve seen Zabulon Skippers. Our previous late date was 10/20.

Strangely enough we saw no Monarchs, Pierids, or any other species during our 45 minute visit.

Sightings for multiple visits from Nov 5-10.

sunny breezy 66 degrees. Still a fair amount of goldenrod in bloom. The American Copper is a new ‘late’ date for me, and was a fresh individual very close to where I saw a worn one on Oct. 25th.