September 2019 Sightings

Gorgeous! First time ever seeing one of these!

Humid thick air due to approaching Hurricane

Five Monarchs came out of chrysalises this morning. It was rainy much of the day with temperatures in the 60s. When skies became overcast late afternoon, they were brought to tropical milkweed. There were 2 males, & 3 female monarchs- all feeding on the milkweed before flying away.

The Duke’s Skipper population was discovered here last June, so we made a trip to see if there was a fall brood.

There was an explosion of Painted Ladies! They were all either nectaring on Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) or on the trail

Cool morning, warm afternoons. It was partly sunny and 76, light winds when observing. A healthy male Monarch came out of the chrysalis this morning. Flew away around 2pm ET.Thunderstorm arrived in early evening.

(21-85) Nice haul considering cloudy conditions.

Around 8-9 am, sunny and in 70’s. Not a lot of butterflies recently except for blues and a few Painted Ladies.

Report includes butterflies observed in the State Park and roadsides immediately adjacent to the Park.

Despite blustery conditions as a result of Hurricane Dorian off the coast of Florida, butterflies were plentiful!

(22-149) Great afternoon! Southern Broken-Dash is always a highlight at the park.

Second recorded sighting of a Florida purplewing for the park; the first was two days ago on September 2, 2019. Photo credit: Elizabeth Lago.
This butterfly, along with the Cuban crescent, were chance sightings.

(41-338) Fort De Soto to Boyd Hill to Brooker Creek. Missed; Dainty, Zarucco, Queen, Giant and Pipevine.

Noticed them on my butterfly bush in the late afternoon

Partly sunny, 87f

1:30 to 3 p.m., partly cloudy, high 70’s

Third generation of Pipevines in Beaver Co., are in full swing, 15 of 17 seen were on damp sand along bank of Ohio River.

Once the sun broke mid-morning it was hard to keep up! First Cloudless Sulphur I’ve ever spotted in the area!

Partly sunny, 73 degrees at certified garden #2490. Three Monarchs came out of chrysalises, all flew away from the garden. An additional Monarch was seen while driving near a freeway

The Mormon Metalmarks were fresh individuals nectaring on rubber rabbitbrush. Columbian Skipper and Mormon Metalmark were 2 new species for the season found during a transect survey.

The two-tail came by twice.

75F

Sunny and 73 degrees. Cool mornings and nights.

Weekly survey with Della Wells. 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM; air temperature 65 to 72 F, dew point 53 to 57 F; wind gusts 3-11 from ENE.

I believe this is a Red-spotted Purple chrysalis

Day started sunny then turned very cloudy. Still able to see quite a few butterflies

From the dam to the tennis courts.

Low 90’s and sunny. Has been dry lately. Butterflies liked blue New England aster.

Partly cloudy, 72 degrees when observing 3:30pm. A female Monarch came out of chrysalis earlier in the day, flew away in afternoon

Beautiful Reakirt’s blue’s! Gorgeous Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, flying overhead!

Our enthusiasm at seeing our first Ocola Skipper in the northeastern U.S. was tempered with the knowledge that Rich Kelly had passed away yesterday. Rich, a frequent contributor to this site, had such mind-boggling extensive knowledge in several fields of the natural sciences, including butterflies, moths, odonates, birds, botany, and sea shells! A mentor to many, he will be sorely missed.
Today’s sightings were made between 2:00 - 3:00 PM. Mostly sunny, mid-70s, with a strong breeze from the NW.

Some clouds, but temperature of 77 this afternoon. Saw a Monarch near garden # 2490. Two Monarchs came out of chrysalis today. One in the morning, another in evening. I gave a 92yr old woman the honor to hold the Monarch whose wings were dried by evening. This Monarch stayed with her for 15 minutes before flying away. It brought her great joy and fascination as it was the first time ever for her to hold one and see the other one emerge!

Butterfly walk from 1-2:30 led by me and Michael Gambino. Easily the most Cloudless Sulphurs I’ve ever had on one day in NY.

Surveyed the shorter loop from West Loop, to Crossroad, then back around to East Loop, including Cemetery Road on the way out; not a whole lot going on today, very slow though we managed 29 species, the numbers were low and the morning almost seemed like a ghost town. Major nectar was Rose Rush, Bidens alba, and some Carolina Redroot. 9a to 1 pm, EPerry & RWarner; a good time was had by all.

Partly sunny, 75F

Areas surveyed-open field past tracks and power lines

in Reed/sedge marsh on inflow stream.

Reed/sedge marsh in inflow stream.
Significant westwards range extension.

68 degrees at 9 am but warmed up in the low 80s.

Sightings made between 10 - 11:30 AM. Cloudy with sunny breaks, low 70s.
Tawny Emperor is a good butterfly for Queens. The sign that the Tawny was perched on is right by the visitor center, next to a Hackberry tree.

With Leigh Williams. Fog fruit is finally growing on the roadside again.

With Leigh Williams. Hot and humid, no wind.

90 degrees, hot and humid. 9:30 - 11:30am. No wind. With Leigh Williams.

Highlights of my first visit in awhile, snout was nectaring and was dark/fresh, possibly a new brood?

**Echoing the Mirth’s sentiments about Rich Kelly- I enjoyed many nature outings with Rich over the years, most notably for seashells and butterflies**

Pearl Crescent is actually fairly uncommon at this spot

2 seen on flowers along sand trail by Jones Inlet

1 seen on flowers by the community garden

seen for first time, on zinnias. Annandale is northern part of Virginia near Wash DC.

Partly sunny 80f

The photo is not very good. It was taken with my iPhone.

A wonderful day in the yard. Amazing to see the Giant Swallowtail after being seen by visitors to the yard on 9/8. This was a first sighting in my yard of the GS. Return of the Long-tailed Skipper but without pictures because of the GS. Over 115 Common Buckeyes in the yard when I stopped counting. 24 of them just on one patch of sedum. FOS in my yard Hayhurst’s Scallopwing.

White admiral red spotted purple intergrade visiting garlic chive flowers in our backyard. Many thanks to Warren Jacobs for helping us identify this beautiful butterfly.

Sunny, 75 degrees, wind 5-7mph. With the intrepid Sol. Lots of Hackberry trees, but no Hackberry-associated butterflies.

10:00 am - 2PM - 24species - and a few that got away or too worn to ID. Worked the fields around shelters 1 & 2

Leaderless Walks - 3 participants. Hiked to south pond at Liberty Loop Trail and back. Cloudy with sun occasionally.

3 Cloudless Sulphurs seen at one time at eleven AM!

Bicycled from Rock Ridge Road to Withlacoochee River.

Leaderless Walks - 5 participants. Cloudy with sun on occasion.

(22-233) Birding turned into lepping once I started noticing all the Painted Ladys.

We checked the lead trees here for Gray Ministreak. We always see Polydamas Swallowtail here as there is a Pipevine Plant. We understand Dina Yellow can be here as well.

Windy and humid this afternoon. Saw 2 Monarchs flying in dusty construction areas. Temp of 86 degrees.

What another wonderful day. Sunny, 75 with 10 MPH wind. Record high number of species. Common Buckeyes everywhere in the yard. Est count of CB. Counts of butterflies from 1:30 to 2PM. Giant Swallowtail back again. FOY Sleepy Orange for my yard. Red-spotted Purple eggs and caterpillars on a potted small cherry tree. These are first I’ve seen here. Continuing Spicebush Swallowtails caterpillars/chrysalis’s, continuing Brazilian caterpillar and chrysalis.

These sightings are from an old abandoned golf course. Late flowering boneset has taken over and was the main nectar source.

Flying near busy street and a Walmart.

Partly cloudy, 80f

8:00-2:00
A super windy day but managed a few butterflies with new friends Leigh Williams and John & Nancy Crosby

Obs. made 10a.m. to 6 p.m.78-86 degrees & Sun. Overall butterfly numbers less than past September visits, but typical diversity. The large plantings of Lantana completely without blooms. Wildflower meadow was very productive with Zinnias the most popular nectar source.

Specific name of this key withheld for protection of species.

Four Miami Blues were found by Walter Wallenstein. This one he shared with us. It was a female oviposting but not on Nickerbean. Unlike our ‘lifer’ Hammock Skipper this provided many opportunities for photos!

Seen on the dock while fishing.

(31-289) 7:30-12:30. A light breeze, but temps reached 90.

Beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail! It was a small one.

8:00-12:00
Sunny skies and very windy!

Observations along Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive

Obs.made from 3:20-4:50.Drove the entire 6 mile road to Lake Drummond. Goldenrod was the primary nectar source along this road. Sleepy Orange was a victim of a crab spider.

Cut-leaf coneflowers drew in some bugs

Obs.made from 12:50 till 2:50. Hazy sun and 88-91 degrees. Surprised to find no Viceroys today on the refuge. Usually such a common sight here.

A Brief stop at 12:30 along the roadside just north of Washington Ditch

Obs.made from 9:15 till 12:25,Hazy sun & 78-88. Most of the Eupatorium past prime and Mistflower very limited.

We walked briskly for four hours targeting a FL Leafwing.

Had 1st high elevation snowfall on Wed (9/11).
Sunny, temps low 50s

All seen during 2 hour descent from summit of Table Mountain. Parnassian very worn. It was seen at approx. 10,500 feet elevation. Fritillaries mostly looked very fresh.

Weekly survey with Della Wells, Nancy Slowik, and Karen Nickeson. 10:00 am - 1:15 pm, mostly sunny, air temperature 62-72 F, dew point temperature 51 to 54 F, maximum wind gusts 8-15 mph from ENE. Plus one White morph Clouded/Orange Sulphur.

A sunny humid afternoon of 89 degrees. Was driving on freeway for about an hour. Saw a total of 9 Monarchs in busy traffic. None of these were together (simply flew separately)

Sunny in early afternoon with temp of 87 degrees, and humidity returned. Saw 4 Monarchs along busy metro traffic. A male Black Swallowtail emerged from chrysalis and was released from certified garden $ 2490 after its wings had dried.

Seen along the cove next to the traffic circle while fishing.

Sunny, high 80’s and breezy. Pygmy-Blue attracted to goldenrod. Buckeye just seemed to be resting.

I came upon several hundred monarchs sheltering in two small groves of black locust trees on the north side of the prairie. They were gradually departing into a 20 mph, gusty wind.
74 degrees, partly cloudy.

Parked at Matheson Hammock & walked toward Fairchild Gardens finding Dina Yellows in border shrubs. We were told to Expect Dinas in the Pine Rocklands at Fairchild.

Sunny, quite warm, near 90 degrees.

12:45-5:00 p.m. 86°-91°; sun 95%. Nectar sources: liatris, thistle, Spanish needles, elephant foot.

Brief stop from 11:40 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 86°, sunny and breezy. Liatris and thistle were nectar sources. Checked area only at the check station.

7:30-9:30
A little early morning butterflying. I shared the trail with a few mosquitoes as well!

Grove Trail, 9:40-11:00
Drizzling & cloudy, but there was some action!

Sunny, high 80’s with thunderstorm approaching. The skipper was visiting chocolate flowers (Berlanderia).

I happened to see this large, dark skipper on Great Lobelia along the creek. My second Clouded ever and a rare find for my area.

My very fist time seeing a Viceroy, so I was beyond excited.

Seen land on the glove of the Yankees pitcher just before he pitched.

Seen just north of I-84.

Mostly sunny afternoon, 15mph breeze with a little humidity. A total of 8 Monarchs visited certified Monarch garden #2490. A male swallowtail came out of chrysalis and flew away after its wings were dry. A pair of Painted Ladies visited as well.

Sunny, high 80’s, slight breeze

P.S. I’m not sure of the sulfur species- maybe Orange Sulfur?

One team as part of NABA butterfly count. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., sun most of day with scattered clouds, 78°-92°. Nectar: liatris, thistle, Spanish needles. LCooper, CFarren, DHarder, MQuinn, EShaw.

Third generation of Pipevines seems to be starting to wane.

From: 1:10 - 2:30 PM.

Mostly cloudy today; sun was out for couple of hours, but had damp cool rain conditions. Monarchs were migrating when sun was out. In one hour, counted a dozen Monarchs. Some visited the mexican sunflowers and milkweed plants, among other plants.

Compton Tortoiseshell and White-m uncommon here.

Warm, sunny afternoon walk in the park with my daughter. More Cloudless Sulphurs once again! Unfortunately no swallowtails today…

Seen west of the lot along the cove. Also had several Nymphalids over the water I couldn’t id. and about 5 skippers that looked like Sachems but not sure except they were large and had distinct black stigmas.

They came continuously across the fishing dock.

77F & Sunny. Fall blooms are really coming on. Zinnias, Lantana, Buddleia, Tithonia, Asters, Mistflower, Rose of Sharon and much more still putting on a show.

Single Atala caterpillar seen, no adults.

Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, 7mph wind

Another wonderful day in the gardens. Continued large numbers of Common Buckeyes and at least 1 dozen CB caterpillars on snapdragons and egg laying on both the plant and on straw next to the snapdragon.. Painted Lady numbers above 25 as are Fiery Skippers. Other caterpillars and chrysalis continue.

Sunny, 75 degrees, some humidity and slight breeze. A male Monarch came out of chrysalis and released from cert Monarch garden #2490. Saw another Monarch flying south. One male Black Swallowtail visited the garden as well.