May 2013 Sightings

The Eastern Pine Elfins are the first sightings of this species at this location.

Cloudless Sulphur was very early

On a warm day in S.F., I was walking home from the Geary St Post
Office. There was a profusion of sidewalk flowers, and up popped an old friend, a Gulf Fritillary. Not a fresh specimen, I thought it was a bit worn.

At least 6 Juvenal’s Duskywing and one Horace’s. Many territorial duskywings.

10:30 am for about 15 minutes. Breezy and cool, about 60F. Nectar sources were vetch and dandelion. Most species were hilltopping or nectaring low to the ground out of the wind.

Sunny and cool, mid 60sF during the afternoon. Count includes a number of areas within the Forest boundary from a full day of exploration. Nectar sources included ragwort, phlox, violets, and dwarf cinquefoil.

Today is a nice warm spring day at 85 degrees. I photographed butterflies for three hours at this lovely spot. This locale is a reliable spot to see and photograph Indra Swallowtail which started appearing last week and will last ‘till the first week of June. I also saw 6 swallowtail species within a quarter mile stretch of road, which also makes this a great spot.

Also one unidentified Duskywing species

Looks like a new hatchling, drying its wings in the sun.

Noon–2 p.m., 61—63 degrees, part of annual field trip of Newark Entomological Society

10–11 a.m. — 60 degrees.

2 unidentified checkerspots
1 unidentified Lady

2:30–4 p.m., still rather cool & breezy

In addition to species listed by Allan Loudell, I had a female Horace’s DW. First brood is either less common than second brood here or goes unrecorded in the midst of Juvenal’s.

Cold, very windy and overcast, little activity

Ray Bruun and I worked the Cline Gulch BLM lands near the town of French Gulch. We finished up on the Hoadley Peaks Road at the county line.
The Western Sulphur is an early record for California.

Tom Stock, Beth Johnson and I visited a powerline right-of-way along a ridge in Frederick Forest to follow up on an earlier foray that was cut short by rain. Under sunny skies and breezy conditions, the temperature hovered in the low 60’s F. The powerline cut traverses scrub oak-pine-mountain laurel habitat and exposes a lot of rock. Brown Elfin photo by Beth.

Many duskywing sp.

Field trip led by Dick Smith through this serpentine barrens preserve. Sky was clear and sunny, light breeze, cool (63F.) Cress, violets, and chickweed were principal nectar sources. In the field 2 pm - 4 pm.

1 Duskywing, probably Wild Indigo

Late afternoon visit around 5 P.M. Our first time visiting this site for butterflies.

First Giant Swallowtail of the season.

We found this juniper hairstreak on a birding walk this morning at Giving Pond Recreation Area which is part of Delaware Canal State Park. It is nectaring on garlic mustard, which, as an invasive, we keep pulling out.

Weekly survey. Temps 61 -67
Cobweb Skippers were in the same location as last year, appearing right on schedule.

Erskine Creek Road is a well known locale for Veined Blue. I was a little worried that I wouldn’t see any butterflies at all as it was cool and rainy all week. By two o’clock it started to sprinkle. But, there was a three hour window around noon, and the Veined Blues came out to nectar.

Weekly survey.
Warm 70 +
Surprisingly, no Cobweb Skippers at the usual spot

This was the first sunny day after four days of rain. The lower elevations of Sherman Pass Road were still open and the buckwheat was blooming. We saw five species of blues today and with yesterdays Veined Blues, we had a total of six species of blues for the trip!

Still low numbers despite a hot (80) and sunny day. A photographer I bumped into at Hessel’s spot on 72 says he got some shots of one but I did not see any despite sand Myrtle in good bloom. A fresh male azure could be an early emerger Summer Azure or the thing referred to as Atlantic Holly Azure but, in any event, not a Spring Azure. I did see one very worn and old Spring Azure

Unidentified Yellow Swallowtail (not Anise)

Sightings recorded over 1 hour 45 minutes.
Weather: 56°F-61°F, clear, windy
Habitat: Gravel road and trail through hilly mature oak-hickory woods with stream.

Sighting of 10 to 15 of Pacific Fritillary (Boloria epithore) over a distance of about a mile.
Terrain is wooded (redwood, douglas fir, madrone, wild raspberry, poison oak and huckleberry bushes) coastal ridges along creeks.
No photo available. Time 11 am to noon.
Elevation 600 to 1000 feet.

Landing in sunny patches near wild forgetmenot flowers

Weekly survey
Sun to overcast - 52 - 54
Still some fliers despite the cold

First ones of the year!

I went up to Cline Gulch Road to look for a first-of-season Lindsey’s Skipper and found three. Callippe Fritillary numbers are increasing. Also, I saw eight Gray Marbles which may be the most I’ve seen in one day at this locale!

Surprisingly few butterflies. Chokecherry was the major nectar source.

Weekly survey.
Temps 65-72 with bright sun
What a difference fifteen degrees can make!

Ray Bruun and I worked this foothill riparian area looking for Callippe Fritillaries, which there were none. Elevation is 2200’

Terrible weather - -no sun and some rain - - but had already made plans with Steve and Hilary Rosenthal based on the forecast which turned out totally wrong. hoary Elfin pretty late. It was worn and Steve had to take my word, more or less, that it was his lifer Hoary. Red-banded HS FOY

Dozens of Red-banded Hairstreaks in oak trees and grass along edge of campground/woods.

Stiff south breeze, low 80’s, humid, alternating mid-level overcast and partly cloudy conditions. Plants are about 2-3 weeks behind where they should be this time of year.

Two hours spent at midday walking the serpentine barrens and associated woodlands at Soldiers Delight. Warm and sunny with slight breeze. Dusted Skippers were very fresh and obviously had just begun their flight; Cobwebs are past peak and quite worn. Photo by Tom Stock.

1:15-2:45

Silvery, Azures and Western Tailed Blues couldn’t ID all of them.

Great late morning for spotting some beautiful Spring Azure’s today. 3 Tiger Swallowtails puddling this morning as well made for a pleasant watch with my 2 year old daughter!

First Pecks skippers and first Silver Spotted skipper of the year.

First Little Wood Satyrs of the year, too.

Eastern Tailed Blues represent the 2nd brood of the year.

69–70 degrees, but gusty winds; 3:30–5 p.m. Saw virtually no butterflies over the first half hour. Many butterflies stayed low in the grasses. Zabulon Skipper flew after Spring Azures a few times, which, in turn, prompted an Eight-spotted Forester moth to start flying. Pleased to see Bronze Coppers - all males - on this first visit to this location this year.

No sign of Woolly Aphids on their Beech host yet this year.

One unidentified Yellow Swallowtail

12 noon - 4 pm in the Hunting Creek Watershed. Cool (61F) and overcast to cloudy. Indian Skipper and Hobomok are beginning their flights; Dreamy Duskywing is mid- or end-of-flight in this location.

One of the Eastern Tigers was a fresh dark form. Unusual at this site in the spring. Red-banded HS also not common in spring here. Nectar sources behind the butterflies. Dusted Sk, Hobomok, Long Dash and Indian all love Blue Flag Iris and it is not even close to being in bud. All of these were using Wild Geranium and/or bramble blossoms instead. Also 7 Harrris’ Checkerspot caterpillars.

Also seen on two different trails were Tiger Swallowtail species which never landed for a positive id.

The Giant Swallowtails seem to be having a banner spring!

Not many nectar sources yet, could be good later in the summer

Hundreds of puddling swallowtails. Most yellow ones were all the same size with variable markings resembling Eastern and Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail.

Periodic survey. Wetlands bordering on mixed forest.
78 degrees, humid

A puddling Harvester!

These species were observed in the last three days of May

First Monarch I’ve seen this season

Pipevine Swallowrtails were abundant as were the hundreds of thousands of 17 year Cicadas. The Cicadas were are sight to see and hear.

Weekly survey.
Temp 74-83; high humidity
Perversely, I actually counted the Little Wood Satyrs.
Surprisingly no Cabbage Whites and relatively few species, perhaps due to a very high count of dragonflies.

The Dreamy Duskywing was found on the lawn area next to the State Forest headquarters.

The Giant Swallowtail flew over the parking area as we were preparing to leave. Also had 2 Sulphur sp. Clouded or possibly worn Orange.

All butterflies were on the beach.