September 2016 Sightings

On a trip to CA ~ Both new butterflies to me

Sunny, many flowers. A lot of oddball singletons this visit. The Variegated fritillary is a rare stray to California which will have to live on as the one that got away as I was unable to get a picture after apparently startling it. A lot of the monarchs seemed to be just hanging out in shady areas.

The north winds are blowing hard. The Monarch is on the move south.

74F

Always interesting to observe “weird” butterfly behavior!

In this case, a Peck’s Skipper landing and sitting on the window of a liquor store at midday.

Overcast day!

In the garden at the carousel at the south end of Battery Park two Black Swallowtails continue to interact with each other and one Monarch was seen after the rain.

I was looking for butterflies after the rain passed and spotted a male Black Swallowtail flying over the lawn. It settled on the lawn allowing a close approach. Heavily cropped iPhone image taken at 11:50a.

Forest Service lands near Oregon Caves National Monument, driving along Forest Service Road 4612. Cathy and I saw at least 50 Golden Hairstreaks along the route!

Mile Marker 327 on Interstate 57

Mile marker 186 on Interstate 57

11:15-2:15 Sunny and pleasant 72 degrees.

I was expecting to see Golden Hairstreaks here, but despite a 4-mile effort, shaking canyon oak branches and tossing pebbles, I was unable to flush a single hairstreak.

Looks like we’ll be seeing more of these guys within the next few months.

77 degrees, light wind, beautiful—but no Regal Fritillaries seen this year!

Weekly Odonate and Butterfly count. Survey with Della Wells, Nancy Slowik, and Karen Nickeson.

09:00 AM to 12:30 PM; air temperature ranged from 64 to 71 F; dew point temperature ranged from 58 to 60 F; high wind speed 6 to 11 mph from NE.

highlight from 8:30-1:30
sunny, breezy

Lots of Monarchs, feeding in a CRP Field.

Stopped there around 9 AM briefly and again at 3 PM for 1 hour. The morning stop was a wet wash less than a quarter mile west of Box Canyon. The numbers of butterflies seen was staggering and quite amazing to witness. There were so many that initially I had a difficult time focusing on the smaller species.

Sunny with temps nearing the mid 90s. Species diversity at this location was way down from previous visit.

Excited to find 2 Sachems. They rarely migrate to the lakeshore counties of Ohio. This is my 3rd Ocola Skipper in 3 days in different fields of Cuyahoga and Lake county!

“Seep willow” in canyon bottoms continues as a key nectar source for a large number of butterflies.

I was shocked and delighted to spot this White Peacock in our garden. I’ve never seen one before but recognized it instantly.

Visited 8:30-11:30. Mid 80s on arrival and mid 90s by time of departure. The number of species seen was less that half from previous visit. For the species present, some were seen in the hundreds. Despite arriving early, roadside skippers were notably absent or missed.

Sunny, 98 degrees. Visited 12:30 to 3:00.

Common Buckeye was different, fresher individual than a week ago at same area; Sachem in numbers, sought any more-rare skippers but didn’t find. Monarchs at various flowers, not actively migrating; sunny & breezy (E wind), 80+F. Mostly a mid-day search. 3 Black Swallowtail cat’s seen on a garden umbellifer, or Apiaceae if you prefer.

Sightings made from 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM. It was good to see nice numbers of duskywings and other butterflies. The giant spider that was ingesting the unfortunate Orange Sulphur appears to be Argiope aurantia, or the Yellow Garden Spider.

Tropical Storm Yesterday

there isn’t much flying these days up here at nearly 9,000 feet. we have been having chilly and stormy weather. i was happy to see these today.

Sunny, breezy, upper 70’s

Warm and windy

Sunny, 79 – 85 deg F, wind light & variable.

This is rich location,this list of sightings was from a 30 min walk.

The area this trail goes thru was burned a few months ago. (Part of a 15,000 acre fire burning over 1/2 the island). A couple small patches of grassland remain in the burned area.

And one hardy skipper.

Also includes number from nearby Dix WMA, where Sleepy Oranges had been found last month, but not again today.

This stretch of Back Neck Road is probably the best patch of butterflying in the county. More than 300 individuals and 28 species seen in less than 90 minutes during this late afternoon search.

Two White M Hairstreaks were the highlight, seen at 5 pm in same area but not together on same Eupatorium. The first seen was worn, the 2nd in very good shape. The 2 more-regular ‘fall’ hairstreak species here were also seen. Sunny, north wind, 80F. - all observations late in day.

Rain and closed section of park affected totals. Lots of Bidens and other nectar sources.

A huge field filled with Lespedeza. I wasn’t able to get a picture of the Leonard’s and I think I saw a Eufala Skipper. It landed and took off within a second.

This Satchem was attending to dandelion blossoms in the wildlife habitat.

A new species for me in this part of NY.

Over 7 hours of observation across two days (9-4 and 9-6). Both days with temps rising from 80 to 90, sunny. Covered West Woods, Mumma Farm, Roulette Farm and educational trail, Balls Farm, and a small portion of Burnside Bridge area.
All Monarchs were female and at least 4 caterpillars found.

small dark grass skipper looks like Northern Broken-Dash but is late in the season here

Sunny and 91 degrees with high dewpoint.

Sunny 85 degrees

With Fred Allen, Karen Finch, Steve Freedman, Dusty Rhodes. Full sun, 90-92F. Abundant weeds that were not mowed offered good nectar opportunities.

tons of butterflies on Rabbitbrush including the Purplish Cooper and Juba Skipper picture below

Stopped here shortly after 5 p.m.

A 15 min. stop along a fairly productive roadside. Appeared to have been partially sprayed with herbicides killing off much of the mistflower.

Observations made from 9:45 to 4:40. Rain showers for the first half hour.Sun appeared at 11:25 and continued most of the day with the high temp.around 90 late in the afternoon. Primary nectar source was Eupatorium ( Joe-Pye Weed).

80F

Hundreds of Monarchs and many Painted Ladies in McCrory Gardens today.

Pleasant day by the Bay. Surprises of the day were several Woodland Skippers and a Coronis Fritillary, a long way from their usual habitats.

Overcast and hot. Peck’s numbers are building up

Finally seeing Gulf Fritillaries. Usually we have lots of cats by late July, not this year. Here is a photo of a Gulf on a passion flower

Observations made from 11:10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 86-92 degrees with hazy sun & increasing cloud cover in the afternoon.A very ambitious search here today in this outstanding Botanical garden. A great balance between horticultural perfection and suitable pollinator habitat. Fiery & Ocola count is very conservative.

Observations made between 8:35 & 10:25 a.m. 76-80 degrees and sunny.

Weekly Odonate and Butterfly count. Survey with Della Wells and Nancy Slowik.

09:00 AM to 12:00 PM; air temperature ranged from 79 to 87 F; dew point temperature ranged from 72 to 73 F; high wind speed 6 to 12 mph from SW.

Mostly cloudy and damp with a few showers.

I got to see this very dark and fresher looking Ocola Skipper from the first 2 pics. I was pretty excited startled to find another Ocola Skipper on the other side of the field 10 minutes later! I only got one crummy photo, but it will do. This is the first time I have seen 2 Ocola Skippers on the same weekly butterfly transect walk on the same visit ever! Monarchs are on their way migrating through NE Ohio!

Cloudless Sulphur is very uncommon in Rockland Co., even though not far from shore areas where the species is less rare. Sun & many clouds, very humid & very warm; these sightings in afternoon.

An abbreviated afternoon survey due to the intensity of the mosquitoes. I checked all the sites where I’ve seen Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak in the past. This is one week after the receiving the major rain and winds from the outer edge of Hurricane Hermine.

Very windy and temps in the upper 80’s.

This butterfly has been a frequent visitor this summer. Late this warm afternoon 90F it favored the Mexican Sunflower and marigolds.

Mid-afternoon walk, one hour, temperature: 95 degrees

Second sighting of this beauty on our private property. One month and four days after first sighting, thinking it is not the same ind. as seen in Aug. Rare find this far north into MO.

85 degrees & partly cloudy. Some nectar source was still available but butterfly activity is minimal. Five sulphurs seen, ID not confirmed. Either Orange Sulphur or Clouded Sulphur. Two No ID fritillary seen.

sunny 80 degrees 3:45 pm

All butterflies were seen between 10,400 - 10,520ft

A rural spring fed creek that travels through different habitats. The Clouded Skipper was a pure luck find! Ocola Skippers are being found in the county fairly regularly. 77 degrees with no humidity, sunshine and a light breeze.

The seep willow patches continue to be awesome!

Feeding mostly on Rigid Goldenrod.

For the past two weeks we have been seeing a lot of action in a nearby small Liatris patch.

Most plants here were severely drought stressed.

74 and sunny

Fresh adult seen on my patio this am.

Quite dry here, only nectar sources are Budelia, Mexican Sunflowers, few Mint species, Sunflowers, Buckwheat in bloom, New York Ironweed and some Zinnias. Fiery- Sachem comparison in one pic.

These butterflies were flying around and feeding at Plumbago flowers next to bike path near Devereux Creek. Partly cloudy day in the 70’s F.

All photos except Q-Mark by K. Wallstrom; the Little Yellows were all seen at Gerritsen Beach park, a traditional, known location for the species; Cloudless Sulphurs also seen there & one was cooperative for photos on red flowers: that one at F. Bennett Field; a search of the gardens at F.B. Field did not reveal any unexpected species to us. Warm & sunny, south wind.

Photo of Common Checkered-Skipper taken late afternoon. Temp 80 degrees, mostly sunny and humid. It was flying around with another of its same type.

Also found several Silver-spotted Skipper carerpillars on Bristly Locust.

Unknown dark grass skipper

Cloudless Sulphurs mating

A yard first! Uncommon visitor to this area (Clear Lake City/Houston/Harris County). Off-white female Large Orange Sulphur. She nectared on Duranta and Jamaica (blue) Porterweed; both plants from a Cockrell Butterfly Center plant sale.

Yesterday was similar to the day before, however today the main nectar source, before noon turned to a strip of Buckwheat with: Bees, Wasps, Butterflies and even Hummingbirds trying this new taste sensation here.

Cloudy and 65 degrees. The monarchs were really out today but very few other butterflies

80, sunny, no wind - perfect!

Coyotebush (Baccharis pilularis) is just starting to come into bloom, may be more attractive next week. Yellow star thistle and a small yellow composite are the main nectar sources at present.

High 75F. Rather weedy and heavily traveled site. It was nice to see many Pygmies and Eufala which I don’t see in most areas I go to.

3:30-4:30. 70 degrees and sunny

Significant drop in numbers of butterflies and temperature here today.

11:00am-2:30pm, 73F, sunny
I was able to photograph all 4 White M Hairstreaks, all on Late-flowering Thoroughwort.

Also had one female white form sulphur. Most of the species were pretty fresh looking.

Weekly Odonate and Butterfly count. Survey with Della Wells and Nancy Slowik.

09:30 AM to 12:30 PM; air temperature ranged from 61 to 65 F; dew point temperature ranged from 54 to 58 F; high wind speed 5 to 10 mph from ESE.

There are lots of Monarchs in the area right now. Working in a Hay field and they are all over the place

80F with Dave Bartholomew, David Rawlinson, Nancy Asquith

7600-9600ft

Saw coming down from the lake.

The Gulf Frit was a nice yard sighting for this far north - although it is 98 degrees here today.

Cooler day - some very worn looking Sachems and many mint fresh Peck’s

Found in Conservatory Garden’s French garden area, in the morning. Photo by Mike Freeman, submitted to Sightings by Tom Fiore - seen & photo’d only by Freeman, only on the 17th. (prior records for this species in this park total more than ten, over many years.)

Black Swallowtail was laying eggs on fresh growth Queen Anne’s Lace. Great Spangleds very worn. See image

Maine state record!

Sunny, 85 degrees with very gusty winds.

Sunny, 94 degrees, breezy to gusty.

Early in Lancaster County, PA I only had 2 Monarchs, later at home in Chester County PA (7 miles distance) it became warmer with the sun shining on and off again, bringing out the butterflies. Again, Fiery Skipper nectaring on Buckwheat blossoms

2 Monarch Caterpillars found on milkweed plant onside of the road

Roadsides were more productive than woodlands

1-hour walk, 3—4 p.m., mostly sunny & 80 degrees.

2nd brood of Bronze Coppers; of those which opened their wings, all males.

One episode of three butterflies chasing one another in a circle: Two Bronze Coppers & one Common Buckeye.

Warm, overcast, breezy.
This area is an overflow basin - mostly dried up.
Crescent explosion.

Sightings made between 2:00 - 3:00 PM.

A small surge of Fiery Skippers for over a week here. On the 17th, an Ocola Skipper was found by Mike Freeman in Central Park, for which a report with his photo is in these sightings. There are more than 10 prior records of that species from Central Park in Manhattan.
An attempt to find one there again on the 18th was not successful.

Six hour visit after a business trip, park was beautiful, but diversity and abundance were lower than I was expecting. Still, the sight of monarchs “launching” southward from the tip of the point was impressive.

Also: one unidentified anglewing

Saw several in my neighbours backyard.

Humid and 85 degrees, partly cloudy. One dark female E. Tiger ST, and one white form sulphur sp., one anglewing sp.

Cloudy,humid day in 70’s 2:30-4:00 PM
Rare MA sighting of Checkered White