February 2019 Sightings

61F very fresh Mourning Cloak
mostly cloudy, weak sun

Sunny, 79 degrees. 11;40am - 3:30pm. With Leigh Williams.

Sunny, high in the mid 60s. In addition, either an Eastern Comma or Question Mark was seen.

Mostly sunny with thin patches of cirrus, 60 degrees. My earliest FOS butterfly sighting yet! Four days prior temps were in negative territory due to “Polar Vortex”.

Full sun low 50’s

High in the mid 60s and the high for the previous four days in the 60s or 70s.

(10-83) Upper 70s, full sun. Saw the first metalmarks I’ve seen at the park since early August.

Full sun high 50’s

Very little blooming except plum trees; Very little activity around trees.

w/ Lori. Terrible pix, but a Great Purple nevertheless.

56F

The most reliable site that I know of for Silver-spotted Skipper in Pinellas.

Noon to 3:00 PM. Sunny, but chilly, in the low 50’s. Willow catkins are the only nectar source, over-winterers the only butterflies seen.

It was a beautifully warm winter day (over 80 degrees) and I spotted this Satyr on some grass at about 5pm est.

Big Pine Key environs 1:00 - 1:30pm

Quite the snow storm (for us) last week; the mtns still covered. But it would seem the Great Purple Hairstreak pulled through, and is back at its tree top look out!

We had our first warm day in several weeks: a high of 65 degrees, breezy, full sun.

First butterfly of season

65-69F

Seen while surveying winter firefly species. A complete surprise since temperature was about 43 degrees, with sun through cirrus clouds.

Seen while driving into the forest, was unable to locate any more butterflies while walking west end of FR#5 or FR#7, or at the “magic” parking lot on FR#1.

All seen in or near the prairie about midway on the 2 mile trail. Full sun, upper 50’s or low 60’s, occasional slight breeze.

70-75F

Fast and wary, the Tropical Buckeye behaves nothing like its common congener. Mostly fresh males seen establishing territories along a narrow strip of mowed herbaceous vegetation adjacent to a water management canal. Flight quick and low to the ground with frequent short stops to land on or near porterweed, the host plant, which is abundant here. Usually landed no more than a few inches off the ground, but occasionally disappeared into taller vegetation along the canal bank. Apparently fearless, skirmishes observed between males, with other butterfly species, and even with a dragonfly. One worn individual — perhaps a female from an earlier brood — flushed at close range and observed only briefly before it sought cover. Many nectar plants around, but no nectaring observed.

Very little flying here in spite of hot, sunny weather, decent rainfall, and many nectar plants in flower.

2 unid blue