June 2014 Sightings

Conspicuous for their absence were Orange Sulphurs, Eastern Commas, Question Marks - and notable for very low numbers were American Ladies and Red Admirals.

On a two-and-a-half-hour walk:

Not a single Sulphur; no Fritillaries yet; only one Vanessa species; Anglewings also scarce

I had these additional species after Mike D left.

Most of the Hobomok Skippers were flying around the blooming Dewberry, often perching on it like in the photo. Much to my surprise, I observed a female laying eggs on Dewberry!

First good sunny day in a long spring of rain and clouds! Many butterflies were flying high and fast. Juba skipper sunning (photo). Rocky Mountain Dotted Blue (I.D. Euphilotes ancilla barnesi)

FOS Black swallowtail and Red Admiral

Polydamas Swallowtail. First year I have these. There are a lot of butterflies and caterpillars.

Weekly survey with Alan Wells. With Maha Katnani.
76 degrees, bright sun

8:40 AM to 12:50PM, 2.5 miles each way

Low diversity.

We visited a grassy meadow surrounded by ponderosa pine and the top of a hogback overlooking the town of Boulder. 6,600 ft above sea level. Field Crescents and ringlets were nectaring on spreading daisies.

Landed on fennel dill and Red Penta plant.

Mix of clouds and sun; high in the mid 80s. Rima Ridge Road area.

63F, short walk

With Groundskeeper Matt Ceplo
75 and sunny

Started hike around 4:30pm

NABA count. Polk County as well as Highlands Co on this large property. Dave Cutler, Marga Cutler, Sue Farnsworth, Karen Finch, laurel Rhodes, Jean Evoy, Buck Cooper, Linda Cooper. Meske’s Skippers were unexpected. Two Brazilian Skipper caterpillars, no adults.

I walked around the southeastern visitor center and then the northern wildlife area.

Endangered MA Species

Mix of clouds and sun; high near 90. Gopher Ridge Road/Bear Island Road/Dark Entry area.

Periodic Survey with Alan Wells
66-73, Sun with clouds

Sara Orangetips common at the higher elevation part of trail

The Giant Swallowtail flew by at the North end of the fields around 5:30 p.m.

from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM

started low 60’s ended low-70’s from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
hybrid zone for Eastern and Canadian Tiger Swallowtails all listed as Eastern

Notable for their continued absence remains Orange Sulphurs, Eastern Commas and Question Marks.

Had these additional 4 species after Mike D left. Orange Sulphur was a fresh female. Its sighting caused me to compose this poem which I publish here:
“No thought I’d be
So glad to see:
Eurytheme!”

Periodic Survey. With Jane Lampkin
72-76 Sun with clouds.
The pic shows a female Long Dash, top, being pursued by a male Peck’s Skipper.
The Long Dash if not a new county record is extremely rare here.

NABA butterfly count. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 79°-92°, sunny most of day. Two teams inside the park, 1 team outside the park. Entire area very dry. High number of Southern Dogface, all inside the park.

Queens County Bird Club field trip.
Northern Cloudywings were all on Pell Hill.

2nd sighting this year.

Mix of sun and clouds; high around 85. Area between Route 622 and Route 60.

The sky was clear and the temperature varied from 56 to 67 degrees F. Plenty cool for a May day. Butterflies were very active.
W. Tailed-blue, Northern Cloudywing; Blues puddling - Arrowhead, Melissa, Boisduval’s, Silvery

NABA butterfly count. 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., 76°-95°, sunny most of day. B Cooper, L Cooper, S Farnsworth, R Mulholland, L Rhodes, J Walker. Lots of nectar sources.

We had a devastating 100+ year flood go through Boulder County Canyons and wondered how the butterflies would fare in 2014. Numerous species of emergent butterflies are now flying. We find many new brilliant males at the muddy puddles.

Lower than normal numbers for this location. Warm afternoon brought some decent diversity. Common Milkweed about 25% open.

Late afternoon observations under complete cloud cover.

Sunny and hot; much needed rain moved in by mid afternoon. Jericho Lane, Jericho Ditch north of Hudnell Ditch, Auto Route to Lake Drummond.

LIFER Rare Skipper

Pre-trip for the NABA Biennial meeting in Chattanooga.

Overcast and rain pending, but Bronze Coppers were newly emergent.

Started at 2:30
5 unID’d Yellow Swallowtails

first Oak HS I have ever encountered in Scarsdale. Knocked down from oak tree by downpour. Assumed it was Banded until a closer look revealed Oak HS.

The rare Hops Azure (Spring Azure) is found seldom on American hops. The hops plants are becoming scarce because of development in our Foothills.The Rocky Mountain Dotted Blue is found on its host plant sulfur flower Eriogonum umbellatum.

10:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Weekly survey with Alan Wells
Mid 60’s, overcast..

2-hour walk.

Still no Vanessa species or Satyrs

Sightings recorded over 6.9 hours.
Habitat: Roadsides and trail through rich, hilly mature woods, with creek and restored prairie and field.
Weather: 63°F-79°F, 1% cloud cover, wind SSE at 15+ mph

The two Monarch records were caterpillars on common milkweed.

Variegated Fritillaries, Gray Hairstreaks, Orange Sulphurs, and Sootywings seen in the residence at the entry to Washington Ditch

NABA Biennial Members Meeting field trip — my sightings only

NABA Biennial Meeting in Chattanooga Field Trip. Encompasses trips on both the 13th and 14th. American Coppers are very rare in Alabama and the Great Purple Hairstreak was a nice surprise.

With Belinda Perry, and Jean Evoy, Karen Finch (both submitted photos). 87-91F, full sun, humid. Blackroot, Nuttall’s Thistle, and Mock Bishop’s Weed were favored nectar plants.

Medium-sized butterfly flying afar at CMBO Garden, probably either Vanessa species or Common Buckeye…

Cape May Bird Observatory Garden at Goshen razed all the butterfly bush and other nectar sources, probably to rid the garden of non-native plants. Butterfly species and numbers also down, though (compared to previous years) without these nectar sources concentrating the butterflies.

there 2 to 3:30 p.m.
sunny around 80

My husband and I visited several sections of the park.
Thanks to Harry Zirlin for showing us the location of the Harris’ Checkerspot. Got the Arrowhead Spiketail too Harry!

There seemed to be more males than females Harris’. It was difficult to get an accurate count since they were very active. I was lucky enough to catch a female laying eggs before I left.

part of a NABA Biennial Members Meeting field trip — my sightings only

NABA Biennial Meeting in Chattanooga Field Trip.

First trip to the Pole Farm to see what might be found. Milkweed and Dogbane are just starting to bloom, so nectar sources were abundant.From 1:45 - 2:45 pm and returned for another look from 4:15 - 5:15 pm. It was sunny and hot (in the upper 80’s), with very little to no wind. On the second trip, I counted only new species.

Had just emerged and was not flying yet. On a fennel plant.

NABA Biennial Meeting in Chattanooga, post meeting trip. Edwards’ Hairstreak just 4th county record for Tennessee.

Also Page, Rockingham, and Greene Counties. Along Skyline Drive and vicinity from Big Meadows to Swift Run Gap. All Appalachian Azures in close proximity to Cimicifuga racemosa. Duskywings, Pearl Crescents, and Hobomok Skippers very worn.

Twenty two Dusky-blue Groundstreaks were roosting at the base of a hackberry tree in the ditch.

Parnassius smintheus, Anthocharis sara julia, Callophrys affinis are some of our local species. One alba form of the Colias philodice is always a treat. Trail is easily accessible and open to the public. 7,600 ft in elevation through dry meadows and Ponderosa Pines with many puddles that bring the butterflies.

2:30 to 3:00 p.m.
in the high 80’s
E. Comma was the summer form
Great Spangled Fritillary was FOY

With Jean Evoy, Bill Evoy (photos), and Karen Finch. Black Root was a very enticing nectar plant for the Hairstreaks.

Not many flyers on the way (cool and cloudy) - and maybe because there was snow here on Tuesday (SLC had high 45 & rain).

On way back, sunny and lots out!

With Jane Lampkin. 85, high humidity

Dogbane was the main attraction here. The minimal amount of Common Milkweed was not in bloom. Indian Skippers were very worn.This is the 3rd consecutive year that I have observed a single Oak Hairstreak at this location.

Observations made from 2-5:30 p.m. The two Baltimore Checkerspots were very fresh. One of the two Long Dashes was in the grasp of a crab spider. The Black Swallowtail was an early instar cat on Golden Alexander.

This Tiger visited in June

77-84F
I was surprised to see mustard whites again, perhaps a third brood.

Greater than normal number of Banded Hairstreaks for this location.

Reakirt’s Blue just 4th report ever in TN.

Part of the Christmas FL NABA count. Participants: D Cutler, M Cutler, T Palmer, B Cooper, L Cooper.
Area very dry. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., sunny most of day, light breeze.

Two-hour walk: 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Hackberry Emperor was only the 2nd I’ve seen here in 20+ years.
With this year’s first Monarch sighting in this area just south across the state line in Delaware (by the Delaware Nature Society’s Jim White), I kept looking for a Monarch, but every single large orange butterfly turned out to be a Great Spangled Fritillary.
Disappointed not to find any Hairstreaks.
Still stunning lack of Vanessa species.
Mating pair of Least Skippers.
Lovely fresh Luna moth on the brick wall of the White Clay Creek Preserve offices!

On the Satinleaf Trail.

Common Ringlet is new for site.

The Western White were seen at the peak - ele 10,420ft
The Large Marble down below - 9500+ ft.

There was an Anise-like Swallowtail flying near the peak — I only got a quick look, it just looked to have more black so I’m not ID’ng as Anise.

Seen while looking for odes with Mike Rickard around Willow Lake and visitors center.

upper 70’s
from 2 to 3 p.m.

77F

Only saw it once.

RSP was hybrid. Feeding on dead shad

77-88F

female Acmon Blue with unusual orange on forewing

Start at 3:45pm — Dotted Blues mud puddling near parking area

after whiffing on regal fritillaries on Sunday 6/22 at Crane Meadows and other known localities in Wood River, I was alerted to this great spot right under my proboscis from where I was staying for business…thanks to Ted Burk, Alicia Mullarkey, Chris Helzer, and Ray Moranz for helping me come up with a “save” on the last day of my trip. Highlights from a 2 hour walk in hot sun…regals were just starting to emerge…all males, chasing each other and monarchs too.

Part of the Bull Creek NABA count. Team 2 - Dave Cutler, Marga Cutler. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 80°-92°.

One part of the Bull Creek NABA count. Team 1 - Buck Cooper, Sue Farnsworth. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 80°-92°

Part of the Bull Creek NABA count. Team 3 - Linda Cooper, Steve Clendenin. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 80°-92°.

With Jane Lampkin and Karen Finch

Record breaking numbers for the “partial” second brood of the Little Wood Satyrs. This is 5 times more than I have ever seen for the “partial” second brood at this location

This was the best butterflying day of the year for me.

Dennis Holmes found a nice sized colony of Blue Coppers near Lake McCloud, which is actually in Shasta County, just south of the Siskiyou County line.

With Ahmet Baytas. Hessel’s Hairstreak is part of irregular 2nd brood.

From 08:50 to 13:50.