February 2016 Sightings
Jim Egbert
15th St.E and Kicker Rd
Tuscaloosa County, AL
- Cloudless Sulphur 2
- Mustard White 20
- Sara Orangetip 9
- Spring Azure 5
- Sonoran Blue 1
- Mourning Cloak 2
David H. Bartholomew
Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
Santa Clara County, CA
Mid-60’s, nice day for a hike. Not many butterflies yet, but it was nice to see a Satyr Comma and a rather worn California Tortoiseshell.
- Spring Azure 1
- Satyr Comma 1
- California Tortoiseshell 1
- Red Admiral 3
Ken Wilson
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park
San Diego County, CA
75 degrees, slightly breezy. Saw one unidentified blue in same area where I saw a Marine Blue last report. Also saw 3 unidentified whites. Not stopping.
- Western Tiger Swallowtail 2
- Sara Orangetip 2
- Orange Sulphur 1
- Mourning Cloak 2
- Monarch 2
Karl and Dorothy Legler
Frontera Audubon in Weslaco
Hidalgo County, TX
18 species. Birds, butterflies and cookies at Frontera! Irresistable.
- Large Orange Sulphur 1
- Gray Hairstreak 2
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 5
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 5
- Cassius Blue 6
- American Snout 1
- Bordered Patch 1
- Phaon Crescent 3
- Red Admiral 2
- Queen 3
- White Checkered-Skipper 2
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 6
- Laviana White-Skipper 1
- Fawn-spotted Skipper 1
- Fiery Skipper common
- Whirlabout 1
- Sachem 1
- Eufala Skipper 1
- West Coast Lady 1
John Heyse
Carquinez Shoreline, Martinez
Contra Costa County, CA
64F
The mourning cloak landed on my head.
- Spring Azure 1
- Mourning Cloak 1
David H. Bartholomew
Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
Santa Clara County, CA
Still not much variety, but plenty of Spring Azures, and this may be a good year for California Tortoiseshells.
- Spring Azure 18
- California Tortoiseshell 4
- Red Admiral 5
- Spring Azure 3
- Mourning Cloak 5
Jim Egbert
Plantation Rd Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
Clear warm day;light southerly wind;temp in low 70s
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
Karl and Dorothy Legler
Bentsen State Park
Hidalgo County, TX
80s and sunny. 20 species. Most of these were from one 6 foot patch of crucitas in the butterfly garden.
- Large Orange Sulphur 2
- Lyside Sulphur 6
- Little Yellow 6
- Gray Hairstreak 3
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 5
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 1
- Reakirt's Blue 5
- Fatal Metalmark 1
- American Snout 2
- Vesta Crescent 1
- Phaon Crescent 1
- White Checkered-Skipper 1
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper common
- Laviana White-Skipper 1
- Clouded Skipper 1
- Southern Skipperling 4
- Fiery Skipper common
- Whirlabout 2
- Common Mellana 2
- Eufala Skipper 5
Karl and Dorothy Legler
Resaca de la Palma State Park
Cameron County, TX
77 degrees and sunny. 20 species. Highlights were Violet-banded Skipper, Blue Metalmark and Mexican Bluewing.
- Cloudless Sulphur 4
- Large Orange Sulphur 1
- Silver-banded Hairstreak 2
- Gray Hairstreak 2
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 1
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 1
- Clytie Ministreak 2
- Blue Metalmark 2
- Phaon Crescent 1
- Mexican Bluewing 1
- Sickle-winged Skipper 1
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper common
- Laviana White-Skipper 1
- Fawn-spotted Skipper 1
- Clouded Skipper 2
- Southern Skipperling 1
- Fiery Skipper 4
- Whirlabout 1
- Eufala Skipper 3
- Violet-banded Skipper 2
Melanie Link Taylor
Residential Home Butterfly Garden, Apple Valley CAL
San Bernardino County, CA
First butterfly of the year, exploring the primroses.
- Painted Lady 1
- Mustard White 19
- Sara Orangetip 6
- Spring Azure 7
- Sonoran Blue 3
Estero Llano Grande Butterfly Walk
Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco
Hidalgo County, TX
80 degrees, full sun, and light breeze from the south, perfect. 22
participants found 34 species just before and during the walk.
A lucky few found a Guava Skipper in the parking lot on azureum just before
the walk (photo by Dorothy Legler). Other highlights were Silver-banded Hairstreak, White-patched
Skipper, and a Mexican Bluewing opening and closing its wings on a tree
trunk far away from the bait station.
Thanks to those who took photos that helped greatly with some
identifications. Thanks also to Mike Rickard, Ginny Musgrave, and Dave
Elder who helped locate, identify, and show butterflies to participants.
Butterfly walks are Fridays at 1:30, led by Rick Snider - Host Volunteer.
- Southern Dogface
- Cloudless Sulphur
- Large Orange Sulphur
- Lyside Sulphur
- Little Yellow
- Silver-banded Hairstreak
- Gray Hairstreak
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak
- Cassius Blue
- American Snout
- Gulf Fritillary
- Phaon Crescent
- Red Admiral
- White Peacock
- Mexican Bluewing
- Carolina Satyr
- Queen
- Guava Skipper
- Brown Longtail
- White-patched Skipper
- Funereal Duskywing
- White Checkered-Skipper
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper
- Laviana White-Skipper
- Julia's Skipper
- Fawn-spotted Skipper
- Clouded Skipper
- Southern Skipperling
- Fiery Skipper
- Whirlabout
- Southern Broken-Dash
- Sachem
- Eufala Skipper
David H. Bartholomew
Sunol-Ohlone Wilderness
Alameda County, CA
Pleasant weather, light overcast. I expect more flowers and more butterfly activity within the next couple of weeks.
- Mustard White 24
- Sara Orangetip 14
- Spring Azure 6
- Sonoran Blue 1
Brett Badeaux
Wilderness Gardens Preserve
San Diego County, CA
85 degrees!
Also 4 unidentified Duskywings.
- Pale Swallowtail 1
- Sara Orangetip abundant
- Dainty Sulphur 2
- Brown Elfin 1
- Mormon Metalmark 1
- Mourning Cloak 2
- West Coast Lady 1
- Red Admiral 1
- Common Buckeye 2
- Common Checkered-Skipper 2
Brian Ahern
Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park
Collier County, FL
With Bill Pranty & Valeri Ponzo. Species seen while birding in the morning. Chase for the Broad-billed Hummingbird
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Gulf Fritillary 1
- Zebra Heliconian 1
- White Peacock 1
- Ruddy Daggerwing 1
- Monarch 2
Karl and Dorothy Legler
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
Hidalgo County, TX
Valentine’s Day. 84 and sunny. 23 species. Fewer crucitas blooming than 3 weeks ago. Highlights were Common Mestra, Mimosa Yellow, Red-bordered Metalmark, Gulf Fritillary and Common Mellana.
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Large Orange Sulphur 2
- Lyside Sulphur 2
- Little Yellow 5
- Mimosa Yellow 2
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 1
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 1
- Fatal Metalmark 1
- Red-bordered Metalmark 1
- American Snout 2
- Gulf Fritillary 2
- Phaon Crescent common
- Red Admiral 2
- White Peacock 2
- Common Mestra 1
- Queen 4
- White Checkered-Skipper 1
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper common
- Laviana White-Skipper 6
- Fiery Skipper 3
- Sachem 1
- Common Mellana 1
- Barred Yellow 1
- Little Yellow 1
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 2
- Ceraunus Blue 3
- Gulf Fritillary 4
- Phaon Crescent 10
- Common Buckeye 2
- White Peacock 1
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 2
- Fiery Skipper 4
Christopher Leslie
731 Algonquian St, Ventura CA 93001
Ventura County, CA
Several of these Pacific Orangetips were feeding at native wildflowers in organic pollinator garden of suburban home near county open spaces. Sunny day with temps in the 70’s F.
- Sara Orangetip 3
John Heyse
at home, Crockett
Contra Costa County, CA
- Monarch 1
- Monarch 1
Jim Egbert
Roscoe & Russian Rd Orange Beach,and James Rd. Foley
Baldwin County, AL
Gusty southerly wind; mostly sunny early and the high temp was in the low 70s
- Cabbage White 4
- Cloudless Sulphur 7
- Common Buckeye 1
- Monarch 1
David H. Bartholomew
Henry Coe State Park
Santa Clara County, CA
Warm day, 10-mile hike, with David Rawlinson.
- Mustard White common
- Sara Orangetip 10
- Spring Azure 3
- Painted Lady 2
- Red Admiral 1
- Common Buckeye 1
- Monarch 1
- Monarch 2
Rudyard Wallen
Golden Gate Park east of Cal Acad
San Francisco County, CA
my first of season after long rains then a week of warm days.
- Western Tiger Swallowtail 1
John Lampkin
Sun City Center Nature Trail
Hillsborough County, FL
Compilation of sightings from Feb 14, 15, 16
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Barred Yellow 3
- Gulf Fritillary 2
- Common Buckeye 1
- Fiery Skipper 6
John Lampkin
Triple Creek Preserve
Hillsborough County, FL
With Jane Lampkin
Sunny mid-70’s
Spring has sprung in west central Florida
- Zebra Swallowtail 2
- Red-banded Hairstreak 1
- Gulf Fritillary 1
- Common Buckeye 2
- Carolina Satyr 4
- Long-tailed Skipper 2
- Dorantes Longtail 2
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 2
- Southern Skipperling 1
- Fiery Skipper 11
- Tawny-edged Skipper 1
- Whirlabout 3
- Sachem 4
John Heyse
Perkins Canyon, Mt. Diablo
Contra Costa County, CA
65-72F
The California Tortoiseshell was my first in 5 years.
- Mustard White 12
- Sara Orangetip 2
- Spring Azure 1
- Mylitta Crescent 1
- California Tortoiseshell 1
Jim Egbert
Plantation Rd. Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
Bright and sunny with northerly wind,warmed into the mid 60s. The Monarch was bucking the wind and headed north up the drive.
- Monarch 1
Karl and Dorothy Legler
Sabal Palm near Brownsville
Cameron County, TX
84 and sunny. 21 species. Highlights were Great Southern White, Blue Metalmark and Southern Broken-Dash.
- Great Southern White 3
- Cloudless Sulphur 3
- Large Orange Sulphur 2
- Little Yellow 8
- Gray Hairstreak 2
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 4
- Fatal Metalmark 3
- Blue Metalmark 2
- Phaon Crescent common
- White Peacock 2
- Carolina Satyr 5
- Brown Longtail 1
- White Checkered-Skipper 2
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper common
- Laviana White-Skipper 3
- Fawn-spotted Skipper 4
- Clouded Skipper 2
- Southern Skipperling 1
- Fiery Skipper 1
- Southern Broken-Dash 1
- Eufala Skipper 1
Jim Egbert
Bon Secour NWR on Jeff Friend Trail,and Plantation Rd.Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
Sunny, warmed into the mid 60s
- Cloudless Sulphur 2
- Common Buckeye 1
- Monarch 1
Daniel Jones
Santa Ana NWR
Hidalgo County, TX
- Pipevine Swallowtail 1
- Giant Swallowtail 2
- Great Southern White 5
- Large Orange Sulphur 2
- Lyside Sulphur 8
- Mimosa Yellow 1
- Gray Hairstreak 2
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 1
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 2
- Red-bordered Metalmark 2
- American Snout 10
- Texan Crescent 1
- Pale-banded Crescent 1
- Phaon Crescent 20
- Pearl Crescent 1
- Red Admiral 2
- Band-celled Sister 1
- Carolina Satyr 3
- Monarch 6
- White-striped Longtail 2
- Brown Longtail 2
- Mimosa Skipper 1
- Texas Powdered-Skipper 2
- Sickle-winged Skipper 2
- Funereal Duskywing 1
- White Checkered-Skipper 1
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 10
- Laviana White-Skipper 15
- Clouded Skipper 10
- Fiery Skipper 6
- Whirlabout 10
- Southern Broken-Dash 1
- Common Mellana 1
- Eufala Skipper 3
Jim Egbert
Plantation Rd. Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
- Cloudless Sulphur 2
- Common Buckeye 1
- Monarch 2
- Fiery Skipper 1
Karl and Dorothy Legler
Edinburg Wetlands
Hidalgo County, TX
85 and sunny. 32 species. Lots of crucitas. Best butterflying so far this year. Highlights were Mournful Duskywing, Giant Swallowtail, Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak, Bordered Patch, and Ocola Skipper.
- Giant Swallowtail 3
- Southern Dogface 1
- Large Orange Sulphur 1
- Lyside Sulphur 1
- Little Yellow 5
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 5
- Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak 1
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 5
- Cassius Blue 1
- Fatal Metalmark 3
- American Snout 2
- Gulf Fritillary 2
- Bordered Patch 1
- Vesta Crescent 1
- Phaon Crescent common
- Red Admiral 1
- White Peacock 10
- Queen common
- Brown Longtail 4
- Mournful Duskywing 1
- White Checkered-Skipper 1
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper common
- Laviana White-Skipper common
- Fawn-spotted Skipper 1
- Clouded Skipper 2
- Southern Skipperling 4
- Fiery Skipper common
- Southern Broken-Dash 1
- Sachem common
- Eufala Skipper 3
- Ocola Skipper 1
Jim Egbert
Plantation Rd Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
- Fiery Skipper 1
Ken Wilson
Plum Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
San Diego County, CA
Sunny, 76 degrees with 9 mph winds. Plum Canyon remains extremely dry. Both Sara and Desert Orangetip were seen in larger numbers but only the ID of the one’s photographed can be confirmed.
- Becker's White 15
- Spring White 1
- Desert Orangetip 2
- Sara Orangetip 2
- Sleepy Orange 1
- Sonoran Blue 8
- California Patch 1
Brett Badeaux
Santa Rosa Plateau
Riverside County, CA
Mid 70s
American Lady crab spider victim
15 Funeral or Mournful Duskywing
- Sara Orangetip 15
- Orange Sulphur 7
- Queen Alexandra's Sulphur 1
- Mylitta Crescent 11
- American Lady 1
- Common Checkered-Skipper 4
Dennis Holmes
Yard at home in Redding
Shasta County, CA
- Pipevine Swallowtail 2
Jim Egbert
Jeff Friend Trail;Bon Secour NWR and Ft. Morgan Historic Site,Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
Mostly sunny light southerly wind;low 70s.
- Cloudless Sulphur 9
- Little Yellow 3
- Gray Hairstreak 3
- Painted Lady 3
- Red Admiral 3
- Common Buckeye 7
- Common Checkered-Skipper 4
- Fiery Skipper 13
Karl and Dorothy Legler
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Cameron County, TX
Sunny, warm and windy. We spent more than an hour in the extensive flower area around the headquarters, with much crucita blooming. We could find only a single American Snout. On the 2 1/2 hour Tram ride we saw only Little Yellows (10) and Great Southern Whites (5) and a single Southern Dogface. All together 4 species!
- Great Southern White 5
- Southern Dogface 1
- Little Yellow 10
- American Snout 1
- West Coast Lady 1
Rudyard Wallen
Golden Gate Park east of Cal Acad
San Francisco County, CA
both super worn, suppose overwintered 14:40
- Red Admiral 2
- Cabbage White 3
- Sara Orangetip 1
- Silvery Blue 3
Jim Egbert
Roscoe Rd Orange Beach
Baldwin County, AL
The Question Mark had been in collision,and was found in the middle of the road;it was removed from the roadway but unlike most it recovered.
- Question Mark 1
Rudyard Wallen
Golden Gate Park east of Cal Acad
San Francisco County, CA
16:38 B1 CC90% cirrus, associating with a carpet of cape ivy. Worn individual.
- Red Admiral 1
- Monarch 1
- Cabbage White 1
- Sara Orangetip 1
- Mourning Cloak 2
- Monarch 1
- Cabbage White
Karl and Dorothy Legler
National Butterfly Center in Mission, TX
Hidalgo County, TX
74, sunny and very windy. Difficult to photograph. Butterfly numbers have increased. A wonderful place!! 32 species.
- Great Southern White 1
- Orange Sulphur 1
- Lyside Sulphur 1
- Little Yellow 7
- Gray Hairstreak 4
- Red-crescent Scrub-Hairstreak 1
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak common
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak common
- Reakirt's Blue 3
- Fatal Metalmark 2
- American Snout 9
- Gulf Fritillary 2
- Texan Crescent 1
- Phaon Crescent common
- Red Admiral 3
- White Peacock 1
- Band-celled Sister 1
- Queen 5
- Brown Longtail 1
- Funereal Duskywing 1
- White Checkered-Skipper common
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper common
- Laviana White-Skipper common
- Common Streaky-Skipper 1
- Fawn-spotted Skipper 4
- Clouded Skipper 4
- Southern Skipperling common
- Fiery Skipper common
- Southern Broken-Dash 2
- Sachem 6
- Common Mellana 2
- Eufala Skipper common
- Silvery Blue 4
- Acmon Blue 1
- Common Buckeye 1
- Monarch 1
Karl and Dorothy Legler
Frontera Audubon in Mission, TX
Hidalgo County, TX
76 and sunny. 24 species. Highlights were Sleepy Orange, Texan and Pale-banded Crescents, White-striped Longtail and Mournful Duskywing.
- Large Orange Sulphur 1
- Sleepy Orange 1
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak 6
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak 3
- American Snout 1
- Gulf Fritillary 1
- Bordered Patch 2
- Texan Crescent 2
- Pale-banded Crescent 1
- Vesta Crescent 2
- Phaon Crescent 6
- Red Admiral 1
- White Peacock 2
- Queen 10
- White-striped Longtail 1
- Brown Longtail 1
- Mournful Duskywing 1
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper common
- Southern Skipperling 4
- Fiery Skipper common
- Whirlabout 1
- Southern Broken-Dash 2
- Eufala Skipper 3
Jennifer Tiehm
Redding
Shasta County, CA
- Mourning Cloak 1
- Polydamas Swallowtail 1
- Giant Swallowtail 9
- Barred Yellow 3
- Little Yellow 1
- Atala 5
- Gulf Fritillary 2
- Julia Heliconian 1
- Zebra Heliconian 37
- Pearl Crescent 1
- White Peacock 3
- Malachite 5
- Ruddy Daggerwing 23
- Monarch 6
- Queen 11
- Dorantes Longtail 1
- Common Checkered-Skipper 1
John Heyse
Confluence of north and middle forks of the American River
Placer County, CA
66F with David Rawlinson
- Pipevine Swallowtail 6
- Anise Swallowtail 1
- Cabbage White 6
- Sara Orangetip 4
- Spring Azure 3
- Sonoran Blue 4
- Mourning Cloak 2
John Heyse
Rock Creek Road
El Dorado County, CA
68F With David Rawlinson
The blues were flying up and down roadcuts. The female Sonoran Blue is on dudleya (food plant)
- Cabbage White 1
- Sara Orangetip 7
- Sonoran Blue 15
- Propertius Duskywing 2
Dennis Holmes
Near Chili Bar on private property.
El Dorado County, CA
Rob Santry and I had great morning checking out the Sonoran Blue colony near Chili Bar. Of the 15 Sonoran Blues seen - 4 were females.
- Mustard White 2
- Sara Orangetip 8
- Sonoran Blue 15
- Silvery Blue 2
- Mourning Cloak 1
Jim Egbert
Ft Morgan Historic Site.Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
The southerly wind return today, high temps mid 60s.
- Phaon Crescent 1
- Common Buckeye 1
- Fiery Skipper 2
Scott Anderson
Monastery of the Holy Spirit
Rockdale County, GA
Saw additional anglewings we could not identify. Unusually early to see a variegated Fritillary
- Spring Azure 3
- American Snout 3
- Variegated Fritillary 1
- Question Mark 1
Ken Wilson
Kitchen Creek Rd.
San Diego County, CA
Mid 70s with breezy winds. One no ID sulphur was seen.
- Anise Swallowtail 1
- Spring White 2
- Sara Orangetip 3
- Dainty Sulphur 1
- Bramble Hairstreak 4
- Silvery Blue 1
- Acmon Blue 2
- Mylitta Crescent 1
- Propertius Duskywing 1
Melanie Link Taylor
Apple Valley, California, Residence
San Bernardino County, CA
Cabbage White in home Butterfly Garden.
- Cabbage White 1
Brian Ahern
Schultz Preserve
Hillsborough County, FL
10:30-11:30 AM. First loop trail only. Fulvous Hairstreak is a rarity for the Tampa Bay area and is a county Lifer for Hillsborough (#82). Flew before I could take a photo.
- Great Southern White 1
- Cloudless Sulphur 3
- Barred Yellow 2
- Dainty Sulphur 6
- Fulvous Hairstreak 1
- Gulf Fritillary 12
- Zebra Heliconian 3
- Red Admiral 8
- Mangrove Buckeye 2
- White Peacock 4
- Monarch 3
- Clouded Skipper 2
- Southern Broken-Dash 1
- Sachem 1
Tom Palmer
Hilocheee WMA
Polk County, FL
- Black Swallowtail 1
- Great Southern White 1
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Dainty Sulphur 2
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Gulf Fritillary 1
- Zebra Heliconian 1
- Phaon Crescent 9
- Pearl Crescent 1
- White Peacock 4
- Long-tailed Skipper 1
- Zarucco Duskywing 2
- Tropical Checkered-Skipper 1
- Whirlabout 2
Ahmet Baytas
Eagle Rock Reservation
Essex County, NJ
- Mourning Cloak 1
Mark Adams
Sugar Hollow, about 10 miles west of Charlottesville
Albemarle County, VA
My personal first-of-2016-season butterflies in Virginia, seen on a gorgeous late winter afternoon with sunny skies (0% clouds), welcome warmth (64-69 deg F) and light (0-10 mph) breezes.
- Eastern Comma 1
- Mourning Cloak 1
Jim Egbert
Plantation Rd Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
- Cloudless Sulphur 1
- Texan Crescent 3
James Shelton
Powhite Creek
Chesterfield County, VA
- Mourning Cloak 1
- Pipevine Swallowtail 1
- Sara Orangetip 2
- Gray Hairstreak 1
- Spring Azure 1
- Silvery Blue 1
- Monarch 2
Jim Egbert
East and West 24th;Jeff Friend Tail BSNWR,and Plantation Dr., Gulf Shores
Baldwin County, AL
Mostly sunny and temps in low 60s.
- Cloudless Sulphur 9
- Question Mark 1
- American Lady 1
- Common Buckeye 1
- Goatweed Leafwing 1
- Common Checkered-Skipper 2
- Fiery Skipper 1
- Eastern Comma 1
Warm and sunny temps in the low 70s