Sighting for May 25, 2018

This property is located along Route 130 in Hamilton, NJ and is used as a parking lot for their overflow cars. There is a drainage impoundment and some undeveloped area east of Route 130, where I have observed several butterfly species over the years while having my cars serviced. On this day, I spent about 2 hours in the area. It was sunny and warm, in the lower 80’s. There were a smaller number of butterflies than at other times I have been here, but the area has not been mowed for some time and fewer nectar sources were available here than before. I observed two large, orange butterflies (one larger than the other). One was definitely a Monarch, and after consulting with Jim Springer, I have listed the smaller one as a Monarch as well, though both were fly-by sightings and I have observed Viceroys here in the past (though never this early in the season).