April 2017 Sightings

With Stephen Moore, Barbara Volkle and Mike Bearce

Sun, breezy, 78 degrees. With Mike Bearce, Barbara Volkle and Mark & Holly Salvato

Sunny, mid-80s

Cloudy/Overcast Day - Mid-80s

Red Banded was seen on the Homestead Trail
Giant Swallowtail and Monarch at Upper Falls

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; 73-91 degrees; light breeze; low humidity; mostly clear skies. Area VERY DRY! DCutler, MCutler, SFarnsworth, EPerry, NPrine, RWarner, LCooper. Only nectar sources were thistles & fleabane. A super day for so early in season.

2.5 hours in field. Temps ranged from 63-69F with 5-10 mph winds.

A few butterflies have emerged as the temperature steadies around 73F. The Butterfly Garden has been groomed for maximum success for several butterflies. So, far Painted Lady, Cabbage White and Western Tiger Swallowtail have emerged, and are very welcomed.

With Stephen Moore and Barbara Volkle

With Stephen Moore and Barbara Volkle

With Barbara Volkle and Mark & Holly Salvato - sunny, 82 degrees - 1.5 hours
MacNeill’s subspecies of Saltbush Sootywing

Early morning sunny, 79 degrees for high temp.

Big storms in the AM
Sunny in the PM

Mostly sunny, high in the mid 60s.

Sunny, windy, 78 in lower portions and 72 in upper areas of ABDSP. I made 8 visits to this area this year, the most notable absence is Juniper Hairstreak. None seen this year and only one seen last year. Blues, other than Sonoran Blue, have been scarce for me there this year. One no ID duskywing.

Sunny, breezy, high 60° only brought out these two species today, although honeybees were out in force, nectaring mostly on Purple Deadnettle.

High is around 90, dry and windy. Butterfly towers are very active with Gulf Fritillary caterpillars and surrounded by flying Monarchs, Gulf Fritillary, and Zebra Swallowtails. Nectar sources are spinach plant, mexican flamebush, passion vine, pentas, salvia, milkweed, and other flowers.

11:00am to 12:30pm

Adjacent to River Road.

North end of the town between a residential yard and the downtown business district.

Warm and sunny and the Variable Checkerspots are out in numbers. The variability is fascinating! Mostly black, to red, to orange to much white.

Several Xami Hairstreaks were seen!

With Stephen Moore and Barbara Volkle.
Observations were on trails around the Refuge’s visitor center.

70 degrees, windy, sunny

With Barbara Volkle and Mark & Holly Salvato - middle of day, very windy with thunderstorm approaching

With Barbara Volkle and Mark & Holly Salvato - early morning 1 hour

This was the first warm day this season. Temps hit 70 degrees. The butterflies are just starting to show up after a very rainy March.

Trail along the Middle Oconee River

Painted Ladies - finally, migrants.

Windy, dry, few flowers except some thistle in section north of Interstate 4

Mourning Cloak #1 for 2017. Chased for photograph, lasted for thirty eight minutes. Landed twice, no such luck. I ❤️ Mourning Cloak Butterflies.

dry, warm conditions….80 degrees

Sunny, cooler. This area has many hilltops full of butterflies. Anise count includes 2 caterpillars. Never seen so many swallowtails!

late afternoon, 70 degrees.

10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Weather: 80-86 degrees; mostly overcast/cloudy all day & windy. VERY DRY! Nectar: blue flag Iris, violets, daisy fleabane, pickerelweed. No thistles blooming yet. Tom Palmer, Linda Cooper

Commas and Mourning Cloaks were frequent along the biking trail. A beautiful 64 degrees today.

Cool, mid-60s. Not many flowers, but lots of fresh green grasses (hence an abundance of California Ringlets).

Today had a surprise for me with this beat up American Lady, just 30 feet inside Pennsyvania! This was on the edge of an ag field that was quite wet on the bottom of a downslope.

First of the year for this farm that is all pastureland, with cattle and poultry that are temporary residents. No ground has been tilled here for 15 years, fencerow spraying is minimal + mowing.

Full sun, 81F.

On my way to Nottingham County Park I encountered most of these butterflies, however only one each inside the park itself.

Wildlife Drive loop

Breezy Clear 80s
10:30 -1:30

Also 1 Duskywing sp.

Very breezy ahead of a cold front

Partly cloudy and windy. Small Blues were difficult to photograph

Sunny
Wind. Northerly
Winds 10 - 15mph
Temps upper 50s - mid 70s

This is my 1st Monach moving along the beach since the winters residents left at the end of January ;other Monarch have been seen inland in the past couple of weeks;general movement for all of the sightings have been from SW to NE.The Great Southern White showing this early maybe a good sign of exciting things to come this season.

We finally had a sunny day after 11 straight days with below normal temperatures and cloudy/rainy weather. It was around 53 degrees, wind gust of 13.8 m/h. Butterflying from 12:00 to 2:40

we were out for a walk not expecting to see any butterflies since it had been snowing the 2 previous days. there was still lots of snow though it was melting in the warm sun. we were out from 1 to 2:20 pm…. the elevation is 8500 feet. we were surprised to see butterflies. unfortunately i didn’t bring my camera.

With Dusty Rhodes (photos). 2 hours on far western part of the greenway. Full sun, high 60s, winds 15-25. Non-native Lantana, Bidens and Fleabane offered good nectar.

Very windy and cool high 66

Sunny
Wind Northerly
Winds light less than 10mph
Temps mid 40s - lower 70s

this little dirt road goes through pine trees along a creek with some open areas of grass. still a lot of snow in the woods. the elevation is 8,300 feet. i was there from 10:30 to 11:30 am partly sunny, breezy and 50F

Most of the flowers have dried up in this park. 15 species had been detected at this site in mid-March. However, butterflies are still on the wing. The temperature was in the high 70s in the early afternoon.

The temperature had been quite cool the night before. I arrived mid-morning with a temperature of around 75 degrees and a light breeze. Although I saw no Atala flying, there were many caterpillars on the coontie. Also present were Zebra Heliconian, Monarch and Gulf Fritillary caterpillars.

Observer was Jess Gray.

93 degrees and windy. Gorgone checkerspots were everywhere, with quite a bit of size variation among the individuals. Outis skippers are early, and they were so small that I did not recognize them at first.

we left Geer and went to deadman’s gulch,5,669 foot elevation. the stream was now running from recent snow… 70F sunny. we were there from 1 to 2:20 PM. we were particularly looking for the moss’ elfin.

55f, cool and breezy

it was breezy and mostly sunny, 68F. there wasn’t much flying even at this low elevation of 5,636 feet. we were there from 10:30 AM to noon.

The Red Admiral was the first one of the year I have seen.

The temperature was in the high 70s. Visiting from the Pacific NW, I was in awe at the large number of Palamedes Swallowtails that seemed to be everywhere in this park today. Unfortunately they never paused long enough for a photo.

Perfect weather day - 100% sunshine, about 70F.
Various stops in and around Millville.

One-and-a-half-hour walk, late afternoon.
Above 70 degrees, but a little breezy.
My first Falcate Orangetip of the year. Surprised not to see any Cabbage Whites, but did see one earlier in the day along Route 273 by the Route One overpass, Bear, Delaware.
The Eastern Comma was quite worn, presuming an individual which overwintered.

11:45-3:20 on various trails and areas, both North and South Tract. Fantastic weather - sunny with temps rising into mid-70s and light breeze.

I-80 corridor.

US 46 & I-80 corridor.

With Jane Lampkin, during a Manatee Audubon bird outing.
Upper 70’s, gorgeous weather.
Thistle ruled the day during this super-dry period.

My first butteflies of the year! I thought the Green Comma was a roadkill but when I picked it up its legs were kicking! I put it down at the side of the road and it walked and opened it’s wings. Also 2 unidentified commas.

First butterfly for the year. Sunny with temperature of 74 degrees.

Mourning Cloak #3.

It was 73 degrees, wind gust 11.5 mph, hazy, walked from 12:30 to 2:30. The red admirals must have just come out because would turn a corner and there would be maybe 10 all together.

Clear, calm, sunny; about 70 F.

Our life Oak Hairstreaks - thanks! to Linda Cooper. Most butterflies on White Sweet-Clover or Fleabane around either side of largest pond from pavilion.

11-2 - Mallows seen at 3 different sites within the park.

Perfect sunny day (70F with light breeze) with stops along Rt. 72 and 539.
Spring Azure includes lucia and marginata. Lucille’s rocked an amazing grilled pastrami with swiss on rye.
Possible Hessel’s sighting: trickled down out of cedars and flew off fast for binos or camera. Not 100% sure with moth activity running high.

I saw 2 Red Admirals!

Half hour 5-5:30 pm along one quarter-mile roadside full of yellow blooming thistles.

Sunny to thin overcast, 78 degrees, windy

78, sunny, calm winds

Cabbage Whites abundant along creek and nearby roads, Red Admiral was almost to Susquehannock Dr.

Today’s quest was for Falcate Orangetip, Spring Azure and Juvenal’s Duskywing. Only Juvenal’s cooperated with probably a week too early, by my records, for the other two species.

Sunny and 74 degrees with the white cabbage butterfly flying around

Mourning Cloak and an Eastern Comma. Butterflies everywhere😁😋

Azures; 1 lucia, 1 marginata, 1 violacea, 4 didn’t land.
1 Polygonia sp.; - Question Mark/E. Comma - didn’t land.
1 EUROPEAN PEACOCK, Aglais io. Seen well, close, and for an extended period of time. The camera was an hour away by foot. But individual mint fresh. An obvious escape from a butterfly house (of which there are several in the general area). Maybe a holdover from 2016.

Butterflies seen on hammock loop trail.

Worked from 1 to 5 p.m. mostly along Forest Road 11. Bidens and some thistle.

Hoping to see Falcate Orangetip but missed seeing any.

On my first walk of a half hour I saw only a single Cabbage White. After I moved and parked near a play area I saw 2 Falcate Orangetips and the Spicebush in an open mature Pitch Pine setting.

Just after tilling the garden the Swallowtail dipped in for a taste of our soil and just as quickly flew off northward.

also one unidentified dark swallowtail

A little wetter here, but flowers still sparse. Most butterflies nectaring on thistles.

Very dry; very few butterflies,

Northern Cloudywing and gulf fritillary.

Nature walk at county park….sunny, warm and 78 degrees

Hopkins Prairie (very dry) and unpaved roads and edges south of Salt Springs.

Area was very dry. Nectar sources were purple thistle, Nuttall’s thistle, daisy fleabane, and sweet clover. Like an oasis in a desert, some purple thistles had as many as six species of butterflies on a single bloom! Weather was warm, sunny and dry. Only surveyed the road shoulders as turkey hunting was still in season until 1 pm this day. Most nectar sources were in ditch along road shoulders.

Many cloudywings to sort through! some not identified. More butterflies than expected for dry habitat.

The start of another great year.

Along road and on trails.
Sunny with temperatures in mid 50’s.

Duskywings very abundant. Probably over 1000 in 3 hours. Guessing 1/4 of them could be Sleepies. The rest Juvenal’s.

Mostly sunny, 66 degrees.

Pine Elfins and Orangetips were plentiful. Orangetips consisted of 29 males and 5 females.

Partly cloudy with intervals of cloud cover, occasionally gusty, mid 60s.

With Jean Evoy; 9:30-11:30
70’s
Prolonged drought conditions are taking a toll.

It was a wonderful day, sunny, no wind, around 70 degrees, humidity of 56$. Saw my first Henry’s Elfin in the parking lot garden on a Redbud tree.

Ditto to everything Edward Perry IV says below. The thistles along the entrance road past the check-in station, and then along the roadside after turning left at the loop road T, had the most skippers and almost all of the Arogos.

Spring Azure form Lucia
55 degrees sunny

hot and sunny 80 degrees

This is the first Eastern Pine Elfin I’ve ever seen in this suburban neighborhood. It flew by me, going north and never stopping.

Spring Azures included candidates for the form marginata of C. lucia.

9:30 to 10:30AM

from parking lot only.
Monarch was very faded.

Full sun but only 55 to 59F, cool but light wind. Despite the low temps, multiple hilltops had a lot of good butterfly activity! Didn’t ID many of the duskywings as I was rather pressed for time.

elevation 8,632’ full sun breezy 65F. we were there from
11AM to 12:45

61F
The Painted Ladies were apparently hatches rather than migrants.

56F

Pondside Trail.

A large forested area amongst farmlands mainly consisting of Redbud and Cedar trees. Also contains oak and very little maple. Mostly sunny @ 67 degrees.

Was sunny earlier in the day, but cloudy and only 43 degrees when I saw these flying.

Around 7300 ft on the south facing slope - clear of snow. When the trail turned north, it was still snow covered.

Sunny, 76 degrees, light breeze. Temps didn’t reach mid 60s until noon. Several no ID Duskywings. One no ID sulphur.

Sunny, 72 degrees, windy. I stopped to search lupine found along roadside.

9:45 - 4:15; weather- 74 - 84 degrees, winds 10 - 17, partly cloudy all day. SFarnsworth, LRhodes, DRhodes, NPrine, LCooper. Thistles main nectar source but fading fast. Many roadside Daisy Fleabanes also blooming. Small patch pickerelweed in dry swale.

60F

lot’s of sun, Sugar Moisture and sap from Maple Trees. Butterfly heaven!

A bit of sunshine between storms. 67 degrees today. The admirals and ladies were visiting ground ivy which has just started to bloom.

Mostly Sunny
Wind. Southerly
Winds. 10 - 15
Temps low 60s - mid 70s

Elevation: ~6400ft
Sunny almost 50 degrees (around 1pm)

Only made it about 1/4 - 1/2 mile due to a higher than usual Spring run-off. (All the rocks and logs I usually hop across were under water.)

Orange clearly seen on sulphurs in flight.

Dozens of butterflies were puddling in a rocky section along Little Falling Creek and a Pipevine Swallowtail was busy laying eggs on Virginia Snakeroot.

Partly to Mostly Cloudy. 80 degrees

Sunny, 70 degrees, light breeze. This site is still weeks away. Buckwheat is not in bloom yet.

Sunny, 70 degrees, the wind went from mild to windy as it got later in the day. Had several no ID duskywings.

it was mostly sunny, about 58F and breezy. most of this road is southern exposure. spring beauties and candy tufts are blooming. i was surprised to see a Two-banded Checkered-Skipper this early. they usually begin to fly mid to late May. also the Olympia marble is a first time sighting at this location. we have been monitoring this location for 8 years.
lots of Painted Ladies right now.

Seen in the open field at end of the road south of the parking lot for the walking trail.

3-6 PM. Still very dry. Bidens, lantana, fogfruit and sleepy morning were nectar sources.

Only made it to first saddle (7500ft)

Saw Commas too but could not ID.

Two more Mourning Cloaks, Happy Easter

Easter Sunday afternoon: 1-hour walk, 3:30—4:30 p.m.
Partial sunshine alternating with cloud cover, 85 degrees.
My first Swallowtails & Fritillaries of the year.

Possible Falcate Orangetip flying low, but it never landed. Unlike at nearby Lums Pond State Park, DE and Nottingham County Park, PA, I’ve never seen a Falcate Orangetip here in 20+ years